Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 45, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 February 1906 — Page 1

Jasper County Democrat.

SI.OO Per Year.

DISASTROUS FIRE.

Old Hershman Building: Near Depot Burned. LOSS $6,000, PARTLY INSURED. Hendrixson Barber Shop Burned and Old Foster Hotel Badly Damaged By Flames Wednesday Night. A disastrous fire occurred near the Monon depot at midnight Wednesday night, and as a result the old C. E. Hershman store building was completely destroyed and the south part of the old Foster hotel is badly burned, so that it is practically beyond repair. The Hershman store and stock of goods had lately been traded to C. E. Jolly of near Francesville, who was that day moving here, and the stock, which was invoiced in the trade at $3,300 was nearly a complete loss, as he had no insurance on goods and but little was saved from the store. Mr. Jolly’s household goods were being placed in the James Fisher house, near by, which be had recently bought, and it was not damaged. The part of the store that used to be occupied by Mrs. Hershman’s millinery store was occupied by Sam Hendrixson, the barber, and be lost everything, the quilts of their beds being on fire when they awoke and made their escape in their night clothes. Sam had 1600 insurance on bis furniture and barber fixtures. The building and lots were valued in the recent trade to Mr. Jolly at $2,500, and there was 1800 insurance on the building. The old Foster building was owned by C, E. Osborne of Wanatah, and there was SI,OOO insurance on this. The south part of this building was occupied by H. C. Reed, as a hotel and restaurant, and the north part by Rutherford’s butcher shop. The latter lost nothing,the meats and fixtures being taken out without loss. Mr. Reed lost some little property, but bad no insurance. The fire was first discovered about 11:45 p. m., and is supposed to have started from a tile flue in the Hendrixson barber shop. By the time the fire company got on the ground the Jolly building was too far gone to save, but they managed to prevent much spread of the fire. The entire loss will probably be in the neighborhood of $7,000 or SB,OOO.

STONE ROAD ELECTION OF FEB. 20.

Some Facts Concerning Proposed Improvement In Jordan Tp. The proposition of Carpenter, Jordan and Marion townships—including the city of Rensselaer and the town of Remington—voting a tax for the improvement of that notoriously bad piece of Range Line road in Jordan township, will come up in the form of a special election on Tuesday, Feb. 20. In view of this the following fiigures will be of interest to the voters of those townships. They are compiled from the viewers' report and the records at the court house, showing net valuations of the townships and towns interested, the percentage of cost for each, etc., etc. Specifications— Length ol road in feet 20,837 Width of top of grade, feet.. 25 Width of stone, feet !• Depth of stone, inches 9 CostTotal estimated cost 915,000.00 Cost per mile, construction 3,452.50 Preliminary cost per mile.. 34500 Interest ten years 4# per c 855.00 Total estimated cost, mile. 4,652.50 . Grand total, ten years.... 18,375.00 TaxMaximum tax per 91,000, cents Total net va1uati0n....95,032,130.00 - Percentages of -cost — Rensselaer... 24.8 Remington 7.4 Carpenter Township 29.0 lordan Township 10 7 Marion Township 28.1 It will be seen therefore that the highest possible tax assessment will be 36| cents per SI,OOO per annum, net valuation on all property within the voting district comprising Marion, Jordan and Carpenter townships, and the average assessment of each individual taxpayer of. the corporations interested is but 11,000, making on-

ly 36| cents per year as the average tax. Everyone must admit that this bad piece of road should be improved. It is the main traveled road between Rensselaer and Remington, as well as the main traveled road from northwestern Indiana to points south, and much of the time is scarcely passable. Owing to its being sparsely settled in that locality it is not likely that the improvement would be made by Jordan or the land owners along the proposed improvement for some years to come, yet come some time it must, and it would seem that Jordan township, which will, under the plan proposed, have less than 11 per cent, of the cost to pay, ought to vote solidly for the improvement. In addition to completing a good roadway between the two principal towns of the county, the building of this connecting link of the Carpenter and Marion gravel road will give Jordan something to build to if she wishes to improve an east and west road, she already having a stone road running north and south along the west side of the township. A majority of all votes cast in the three townships will carry on Feb. 20, 1906, and no citizen of either Marion, Jordan or Carpenter can afford to lose this opportunity of endorsing good roads and settling a question of many years’ standing.

GO SLOW ON INVESTING IN THE CREAMERY PROPOSITION.

Rensselaer, Remington, and various other neighboring towns have had “experience” in the creamery business, and it has been to their financial loss and sorrow. This craze swept over northern Indiana some fifteen years ago, worked up by agents from the cities who no doubt made thousands of dollars out of it. Of all the scores of creameries established throughout this section of the state at that time not a solitary one, so far as we know, ever lasted five years, and from one to three years was the usual life of each. Several hundred thousand dollars was lost by the farmers who took stock in these enterprises, for they were losing ventures from the first, and in view of the fact that agents or creamery promoters are again trying to work this section of the state on the same old scheme, The Democrat believes it is its duty to warn the people of the rocks of financial disaster that wrecked the scores of creameries in this section a dozen years ago. We do not want to discourage any worthy enterprise, but we do not believe the conditions now are much different from the conditions then, and this section of the state is still too sparsely settled to make enterprises of this character pay. Think the matter over carefully before investing any money in this almost sure to be losing venture.

FARMHOUSE BURNED IN GILLAM.

The dwelling on the Mrs. Albert Parker farm in Gillam township was totally destroyed by fire last Saturday afternoon, Luther Watson, who occupied the farm losing all his household goods and sls in cash. Mr. Watson had come to Rensselaer and the fire was discovered some time after his departure, but was too far ad* vancea to save anything. There was S3OO insurance on the building, which was old, but Mr. Watson had no insurance on the contents. He is a poor man with a family of three children and the loss is a severe one to him. Friends are circulating a subscription paper to help him get a start again.

A NEW PIANO STORE.

Mr. Samuel Block, manager for the Geo. P. Bent Piano Co., of Chicago, was here Thursday and arranged to occupy the opera house annex, where he will show a line of Crown, Knabe and Concord pianos. The arrangements are to be here for 30 days, and the exhibit will be in charge of Mr. F. L. Demmitt of Chicago, who will be pleased to have a personal interview with all those who are interested in instruments of this kind. The Angelus Piano Player will also be shown at the same place. You will be welcomed whether you wish to purchase an instrument now or not.

Fob Rent:—24o acres of bluegrass pasture land in Newton tp., 6 miles from Rensselaer. Enquire of Jay W. Williams.

Rensselaer, Jasper County, Indiana, Saturday, February io, 1906.

BRIDGES NEEDED.

Additional Appropriations of $22,000 Made BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL MONDAY At a Special Session. Hade Necessary By the Hany New Ditches Being Constructed. The county council met in special session Monday and reappropriated funds for claims which had lapsed Jan. 1, and made a number of new appropriations. Among the items of new appropriations made, are: NEW BRIDGES For plans and specifications... S4OO 00 1 bridge in Gillam 900 00 1 bridge in Marion 2,000 00 4 bridges in Newton 4,00000 1 bridge in Keener 600 00 1 bridge in Carpenter 700 00 1 bridge in Milroy 800 00 Moving 1 bridge Milroy 100 00 lobridges in Union 10,000 00 2 brigdes in Wheatfield 2,200 00 RE-APPROPRIATION 1905 2 bridges Walker 1,400 00 3 bridges Jordan...., 1,961 00 2 bridges Newton 2,070 50 1 bridge Wheatfield 800 00 1 bridge Milroy 700 00

These new bridges and dozens more, no doubt, are made necessary by the large number of large new dredge ditches that have lately been constructed or are in course of construction in the county, notably the Garrison and Nissius ditches south of Rensselaer, the Kent and Moffitt ditches in Union and Newton townships, and the big Iroquois ditch in Newton, Union, Barkley and Marion townships. Quite a number of the old bridges now in use will be moved to other smaller ditches which they will span. In the matter of the judgment of B. J. Gifford for $2,500 on account of the Iroquois ditch, Councilmen Babcock, Porter, Martindale, Haan, Drake and Shirer voted in favor of making the appropriation, and Councilman Williams against it. C. W. Weatherhogg was given $215.05 for architect services on that extravagant new cottage at the state soldiers home, and $23 05 was appropriated for the equally extravagant ladies’ waitingroom in the court house. The sum of $4,000 was appropriated for repair of ditches by the county surveyor.

MRS. ORRIE YEOMAN DIES.

Mrs. Katie Yeoman, wife of O. A. Yeoman of Virgie, died last Friday morning, after several weeks sickness from stomach trouble, aged about 38 years. The remains were brought here for burial Monday, Rev B. F. Ferguson making a few remarks at the grave and the burial ceremonies being in charge of the Rathbone Sisters of this city, of which deceased was an honored member. The maiden name of deceased was Katie Green, and for a number of years she lived with the family of A. McCoy. She graduated from the Rensselaer schools about 1887 and was married to Orrie A Yeoman about one year later. She had been in poor health for some time, but of late had been improving. About a week before her death she was taken worse died at about 6 o’clock Friday morning. She leaves a husband, one daughter, aged 16 years, one sister, Mrs. Nellie Gingrich, of Rogers Park, Chicago, and a large circle of friends to mourn her loss.

BOARD ASKED TO INTERFERE.

Asserted that County Treasurer Should Account for Interest. Jeffersonville, Ind., February 5. —Samuel Hedge, taxpayer, has filed a petition before the Board of County Commisaioners, asking an investigation of the accounts of B A. Coll, ex-county treasurer, alleging that he has retained for his personal use interest on county funds paid by two banks of this city and the bank at Charlestown. The amount is said to be nearly $7,000. Joseph A. McKee, county attorney, has been directed to investigate. The action is based on an opinion rendered by exJudge Alexander Dowling, of New Albany, at request of the petition-

er, who holds that the interest is part of the county fund and should be accounted for with it, and that the custom of treasurers in retaining it is no defense. It is said that the treasurers of Clark county have heretofore retained the interest, but the present treasurer, Isaac G. Phipps, accounts for it to the county.

TOOK “FRENCH LEAVE.”

The deal for the Geo. Keister restaurant by E. L. Case of Jordan tp., fell through with, and Mr. Case has left the country, it is said having taken French leave. And Mr. Keister has done likewise, it is reported. The restaurant stock and fixtures are advertised to be sold next Thursday on a chattel mortgage held by Mr. Keister’s brother, James A. Keister, of Jordan tp. Mr. and Mrs. Keister and daughter left town on th© early morning train Monday for Chicago, after telephoning his brother in Jordan tp., that he was going to leave and for him to come in and take possession of the place. It is not known where he has gone but he evidently left for good, and it is the general .impression that he took several hundred dollars in cash with him, as he had done a good business right along. The chattel mortgage of his brother James, who assisted him when he first came here, is for S3OO, and he is now in charge of the place, running it until the mortgage sale. He hopes to not only get enough from the sale to pay his claim but that there will be enough to pay the other creditors a good per cent at least of their claims. Of these about S2OO in claims have thus far materialized, of which the Rensselaer Cigar Co., John Eger and J. J. Eiglesbach are said to be the principal creditors. The stock and fixtures ought to sell for several hundred dollars.

POLICE COURT CULLINGS.

Saturday night “scraps” still seem to be popular, and the latest one to be aired in Squire Irwin’s court was that of Mrs. H. C. Reed and Mrs. Firnftn Rutherford, both residing near the Monon depot. There has been bad blood between the women for some time and Saturday evening they got into a fistic encounter in which it took two or three men to separate them. Mrs. Reed appears to have been the aggressor at least in this last affair, and also to have done her opponent up in rather savage style. Mrs. Reed was arrested for assault and battery and the disgraceful affair was aired before Squire Irwin and a jury Tuesday forenoon. She was found guilty and fined $1 and trimmings, $27.80 all told. Mrs. Rutherford was later arrested for provoke, and on a plea of guilty was fined SI.OO and costs, $9.10 in all. The Reeds run the old Foster hotel near the depot, in a part of which building the Rutherfords run a meat market.

PUBLIC SALES.

The Democrat has printed sale bills for the following public sales: Tuesday, Feb. 13, Geo. W. Markin, 5 miles southwest of Rensselaer, on the Waling farm, in Newton tp.; general sale, horses, cattle, hogs, farm implements, etc. Wednesday, Feb. 14, Mrs. Reece Robey, on the John Makeever farm, 1 mile north and 3 miles west of Rensselaer; general sale, horses, cattle, farm implements, etc. Monday, Feb. 19, M. Condon, 1| miles south and 2 miles west of Rensselaer; general sale, horses, cattle, hogs, farm implements, household goods, etc.

REVIVAL MEETINGS.

Thd revival meetings at Triniiy M. E. church under the direction of Evangelist Dr. Bitler continue with increasing interest. Dr. Bitler will address another men’s meeting on next Sunday afternoon on the subject of “The Big Three, or a Sermon from the Corner of a $5 Bill.” On Monday evening will be reopened the lecture to women on the subject “Lost, where they went over.” Women only will be admitted and girls over 14 years of age. Admission by ticket. For a clean shave or a neat hair cut, quick service, call at E. M. Parcels’ two chair shop. Hot bath while you are waiting, 15c. First door west of postoffice.

THE COURT HOUSE

Items Picked Up About The County Capitol. was “pension day” for old soldiers drawing their pensions through the Indianapolis agency. —o — There were 9 marriage licenses granted last month, against 18 for the previous month, and 8 for January, 1905. —o — The various township assessors will meet with the County Assessor, Friday, Feb. 23, to get their supplies and agree on a basis for assessing personal property. —o— The annual delinquent tax sale will take place Monday, commencing at 10 a. m. The list is of about the usual number, Keener township having the greatest number of delinquencies on farm lands. —o — The White circuit court will convene Monday. The criminal cases against the McCoys will be called for trial next Wednesday. Quite a good many witnesses from here have been summoned to appear. It will be two years April 18 since the McCoys closed the doors of their bank.

A dividend of 10 per cent was authorized in the A. McCoy & Co. bank matter, and 12| per cent in A. McCoy individual estate by Referee Bowers Saturday, which will be paid some time this month, as soon as the checks can be made out. This will make a total of 30 per cent to the bank creditors and 52| per cent to A. McCoy’s personal creditors. A 1| per cent dividend will also soon be declared to Tom’s personal creditors.

o Marriage licenses this week: Feb. 7, Roy Williams, of Jordan tp., aged 21, to Mary Foulks, of McCoysburg, aged 17. First marriage for each. Feb. 8, Orval M. Sayler of Rensselaer aged 23, to Pearl Ritchey of Marion tp., aged 22. First marriage for each. Feb. 9, David H. Wesner of Walker tp., aged 31, to Ethel M. Fisher of Kankakee tp., aged 20. First marriage for each. —o— •

At the regular monthly meeting of the township trustees Monday it was decided to have the teachers attend the Northern Indiana Teachers’ Association meeting at Lafayette, April 5,6, 7, in place of the Jasper County Teachers’ Institute, they to have the same pay as for attending the latter. All the townships except Newton reported on length of schools in their respective townships, as follows: Hanging Grove, Gillam, Jordan, Kankakee, Keener, Marion, Walker, each 7 months; Milroy, Wheatfield and Union, 6 months; Carpenter, 7| months; Barkley, months. Roy Williams, of Jordan tp., and Miss Mary Foulks, only daughter of Richard Foulks, of McCoysburg, were united in marriage Wednesday at 11:30 o’clock a. m., by Judge Hanley in the clerk’s office. The young couple will begin housekeeping at once on the farm of the bride’s father, in Milroy tp. Mr. Foulks deeded the bride forty acres of this farm where the improvements are located, as a wedding gift, and the groom’s father presented the groom with a team of horses, wagon, harness, farm implements, etc., valued at about SSOO. to start him out in good shape. The young couple have the best wishes of their many friends.

New suits filed: No. 6999. Lewis E. Camblin et al, vs. Geo. Shafer et al; transcript from Newton county. This is a saloon remonstrance case wherein the county commissioners of Newton found at their November term that 211 of the 417 legal voters of Beaver township had rempnstrated against the traffic of intoxicating liquors in said township, and license was refused said Shafer, who appealed to the circuit court, putting np bond with Charles B. Franklin

Vol. VIII. No. 45

and Frank Davis as sureties. The remonstrators then took change of venue from the county and the case was sent here.

No. 7000. Mike D. Falvey vs. D. H. Turner; suit on note. Demand #4OO.

No. 7001. William B. Austin vs William H. Miller et al; suit on notes. Demands S7OO. No. 7002. William B. Austin vs. John Karr; suit on notes. Demand S6OO. No. 7003. William B. Austin vs. Seth B. Moffitt; suit on note and chattel mortgage. Demand #SOO.

No. 7004. Herman Schultz vs. John Brady; action in replevin of hay derrick. Transcript from Newton county. No. 7005. John Bertscbe vs. John Thompson et al; suit to quiet title. No. 7006. Nora E. Bicknell vs. George B. Switzer et al;action for breach of warrantee. Demand SI,OOO. No. 7007. James H. Chapman, trustee of A. McCoy & Co., vs. Jacob McDonald; suit on note. Demand $1,400. —o — The February term of the Jasper circuit court will convene Monday. Following are the names of the grand and petit jurors drawn for the term. The grand jury will not be called, but the petit jury is called for the third Monday of the term. The docket is a light one. GBAND JUKOBS. Frank Coghill Milroy George Besse Remington Frank Howard Remington John A. Andrus Marion James Blake Carpenter Asa Brown Walker PETIT JUHOBB. Scott Cooper ..Union John Bill Jordan A. K. Yeoman ...Marion S. B. Holmes Newton Samuel Parker Hanging Grove A. B. Robbins ...Keener Charles A. Lefler Hanging Grove Reason M. Dunn Union John Haan Keener John Hudson Carpenter A. J. McCaihen Jordan William A. Culp Hanging Grove William Clouse Marion John Kimble Barkley Amos Davisson Union Ed J. Randle Barkley —O — The February term of Commissioner’s Court closed Wednesday. Following is a report of the proceedings, except claims allowed, which latter will be published by us next week: Advertisement ordered for letting contract for two new bridges in Union tp., on first day of March term.

Matter of petition for system of stone roads in Marion tp., and Rensselaer; viewers file incomplete report, and cause continued for filing of claims for damages. Inspectors were appointed for special stone roads election of February 20 as follows: Carpenter, South Precinct, J. D. Allman; Carpenter, East, J. J. Porter; Marion No. 1, Wm. Greenfield; No. 3, A. Woodworth; No. 4, J. A. Burnham. Mrs C. M. Paxton et al, petition for ditch; continued at cost of Mathias Burger. Motion to tax costs to remonstrators in the Geo. F. Ketch mark et al ditch; motion was sustained, and George Ketchmark, Lewis Zick, August Schrieber, Wm. Salrin, and Joseph Salrin are taxed $3.65 each. Amos Davisson et al, petition forditch; no objections filed and matter is referred to drainage commissioner to report on or before next term, said commissioner to meet over ditch February 19. Same action in ditch petition of Johnß. Lewis et al. Requisition for supplies for county farm was approved, and bids for furnishing same to be filed on or before first day of next term. The annual settlement sheets of the treasurer and auditor was approved. For Sale: Two pure bred Duroo Sows, registered, one year old past; will farrow March 8. F. P. Morton, Pleasant Ridge, Ind.

Best flour on earth, “Sleepy Eye,” at the Geo. E. Murray Go’s, new grocery.

I have a good farm of 75 aoree to rent, also 10 tons of tame hay for sale, all at Virgie, Jasper county. Address, H. Hochbaum, 3618 Butler St., Chicago, 111.