The Mail-Journal, Volume 29, Number 12, Milford, Kosciusko County, 2 May 1990 — Page 12

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THE MAIL-JOURNAL — Wed., May 2,1990

Thanks to a crate of tobacco

By M. LYNN GRAY Guest Feature Writer

Sometimes you hear of a name or term and ponder on its origins. Since childhood, I’ve heard of the town called Clunette, but never knew of the colorful story behind the name. Through several resources, including volumes by George A. Nye and the County Atlas of 1879. I am able to share some interesting facts concerning this community known as Clunette. The earliest records of Prairie Township date to April of 1834. Government surveyors going through the area found an Indian village near the center of the survey. They also found two white men in the township in 1834. These men were John Powell and Benjamin McCleary. By 1835, Prairie Township had been opened to the public for purchase of land. Some of the early settlers were James Ross, Jacob Smith, John Martin, and Samuel D. Hall. The government tried to treat the Indians fairly as the new territories were opened to settlement. The red man was paid installments of money and allowed to hunt on land previously controlled by them for a period of two years. In addition to these settlements. the Indians also received assigned reservations. White settlers to the area knew of the Indians' situation, and the fact that many had some form of financial strength. Eli Summy and William Biggs saw the promise of profit among the Indians and newly arriving settlers and opened a general store in their small shack. Located at the intersection of the surveyed sections, this shed became known as Narvoo and later, in 1846, when others built near, the settlement became known as North Galveston. With progress and profit, the small shack in the brush soon became inadequate and was replaced by a substantial two story wood building. Felix Miller platted the town of North Galveston in 1846. Miller felt that the town’s location in the heart of a large, fertile prairie, nearby forests, and the close proximity to Leesburg would eventually cause the little town to grow. This dream died away when Warsaw became the county seat instead of Leesburg. Summy and Biggs sold ownership of the store at North Galveston. By 1860, David Anglin and Daniel Bowman held the reigns of the merchantile. Sometime after the Civil War, Hiram Boggess, an eccentric old man from Leesburg, moved to North Galveston and built a general store on the west side of

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the main street, some distance from the Anglin-Bowman establishment. This new structure sat near the old brick schoolhouse. Scott Schell lived over the store; Boggess lived south of his store. The blacksmith shop was nearby. As in all towns, the local smithy was the gathering place for most village happenings. Farmers brought in horses to have new shoes installed and talked of crop failure and new ploughing techniques. Political debates were held

Rural residents to receive new addresses on May 3

The Kosciusko County Rural Numbering Project and the Cromwell Post Office will notify Cromwell postal customers located in Kosciusko County of their new county address on May 3. Subsequently, the Cromwell Post Office will notify its customers when the new addresses take effect for mail delivery.

The U.S. Post Office will allow

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FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARY— Syracuse/Turkey Creek Friends of the Library held the group’s annual meeting Thursday, April 26, at the library. In the absence of President Donna Arnold, Vice President Paul Rush presided. Reports from officers and committee chairmen were given. New officers for 1990-91 were elected. They are: Lewis Immel, president; Paul Rush, vice president; JoAnn Robinson, secretary; Sarah Slabaugh, treasurer; and Jacque Kuilema, Shirley Bobeck and Matt Neises, members at large. An update on the library activities and building project was given by Rosalyn Jones and Dianna Evans. Friends of the Library voted to financially support the hiring of a high school student Ss a page or aide for the summer if the request is feasible and granted by the library board. Volunteer workers for the past year were recognized and rewarded by the librarians. Librarians Rosalyn Jones and Dianna EVans stressed the continued need for volunteers during and following the completion of the building project. The move to new facilities will necessitate the handling of many books and materials. Seated, left to right, are Sarah Slabaugh, JoAnn Robinson, and Jacque Kuilema. Standing, left to right, are Matthew Neises, Lewis Immel and Paul Rush. (Photo by Mary Jane Lorton)

under the spreading branches of the tree located nearby. , To ensure a prosperous business, the frustrated blacksmith had to hold in his own opinions on volatile issues. It wouldn’t do to ruffle the feathers of prospective customers! The Anglin-Bowman store was purchased by Joseph S. Neely in the mid-1860s. Other townsman of this era included Joel Hall, Hiram Hall, John Powell, Harvey Anglin, Lansom Summy, Edmon Thomas, Jacob Smith, Christian Byler, William Hughs, and

residents, businesses and property owners 12 months to change mailing addresses from rural route box numbers to house and business numbers. In October, 1987, the Kosciusko County Board of Commissioners adopted a baseline numbering system for houses and businesses in unincorporated areas of the county. In May, 1988, the Area Plan Commission established the

Toliver G. Parks. In 1880, Alex and George Harley bought the Neely general store. The only competition was the store owned by Hiram Boggess. Possibly to get ahead of the competition, the Harley brothers established a post office in their store around 1882. Mail had arrived in Galveston earlier, via stagecoach from Warsaw to Leesburg. Anyone happening to be in Leesburg brought the mail back to his neighbors in North Galveston.

Rural Numbering Project to design and implement the system. The rural addressing system will assist fire departments, emergency medical service units and the county police in locating houses and businesses during emergencies. Furthermore, rural addressing is a necessary precondition for county implementation of enhanced 9-1-1 emergency dispatching.

Quarterly cost of living index features Warsaw area

Warsaw is represented in the National Cost of Living Index Report prepared by the American Chamber of Commerce Researchers Association (ACCRA). Every quarter, members of the Warsaw Chamber/Kosciusko Development, Inc. staff collect prices on 59 items. These 59 items are grouped into six categories. They include grocery items, housing, utilities, transportation,

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With the establishment of the Harley store post office, some organization was brought to the small settlement. Regular runs were made to and from Leesburg for the sole purpose of postal pick-up and delivery. The post office at North Galveston nearly failed before the first piece of mail crossed the counter. When the townspeople applied for proper postal handling license from the government, they were told the town’s name would have to be changed to avoid confusion. There was already a Galveston in Howard County! The people of the town were in a quandary. All these years as North Galveston and now they had to formulate a new name to obtain a post office. And it had to be done quickly to meet the governmental deadlines! Thanks to Alex Harley and a shipment of goods from the southern states, a name was found in time to meet the government’s regulations. While opening newly arrived purchases at the store, Harley came across a wooden crate loaded with tobacco. Across the top of the box, in large red letters, was

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GAFF GIVES PROGRAM ON BEAMON HOME — Carla J. Gaff, a board member of the Beamon Home Shelter, Warsaw, presented the program for the Wawasee Kiwanis Club on Saturday morning, April 28. Gaff described the Beamon Home as a non-profit agency providing 24-hour, seven-day-a-week protection and temporary care for victims of spouse abuse and their minor children. Shelter services include a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, food, clothing, counseling, transportation, social service, community referrals, and a child enhancement program. They also offer outreach programs, arnopg which are support groups, and court and hospital advocacy. Services are provided free of charge. All information is confidential. Gaff explained that family violence occurs in all socio-economic levels, educational, racial and age groups. It includes physical mistreatment, verbal abuse, and psychological abuse. Victims included may be a child, spouse, elderly relative, or even one of a dating couple. The abuser may be very difficult to spot. He or she may be a friendly, well-liked individual in public, but an abuser at home. Drugs or alcohol may be involved. Sometimes it may be learned behavior. The Beamon Home is supported by United Way, as well as by contributions by churches, service clubs, and industrial groups and individuals. Pictured are Greg Long, president-elect, presenting a certificate of appreciation to Carla Gaff.

health care, and miscellaneous goods and services. The composite index is based upon these six component groups. Information for this survey is gathered during a three-day period set by ACCRA. During this period, grocery prices are collected from three area grocery stores and additional prices are gathered by phone. Prior to the three-day period, letters are sent to area utilities and realtors so accurate figures may be gathered in these categories. Staff members are simply responsible for compiling the data on to the necessary forms. Warsaw is one of the 249 cities participating in this program na-

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the name “Clounette” .. . possibly the name of the grower or shipping agent in the south. A town council decided to drop the “0” from the name and just use “Clunette’ ’ as the new name! Gene Harley was the first “Pony Express” rider for the new post office. He made daily trips between Leesburg and the Harley store post office in Clunette. The original Harley General Store burnt to the ground on December 27, 1887. Area merchants and local residents collected donations to rebuild the store. Due to the fire, the post office had to be moved for a short time. Upon completion of the new store, postal services were reestablished. The Clunette Post Office remained open until 1891, when a mail route from Warsaw came into being. The town of Clunette still exists, probably smaller than originally platted. Families with such familiar early names as Hall and Anglin still make this tiny community their home and take pride that time doesn’t have to change everything.

tionally. The other Indiana communities participating in the program are Bloomington, Evansville, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Lafayette, South Bend and Terre Haute. The Cost of Living Index for Warsaw includes the following: all. items, 97.9; grocery, 93.9; housing, 107.7; utilities, 105.6; transportation, 91.3; health care, 87.8; and miscellaneous, 95.5. People considering a move to another community, as well as employers recruiting new employees may take advantage of this report. Other interested parties may do so by contacting the chamber office. Pygmy The term Pygmy, considered derisive by the African people it purports to describe, comes from the Greek word "pygme,” a unit of length defining the distance from the elbow to the knuckles, says National Geographic.

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May's weather report

Lores Steury, weather reporter at Goshen College, has given a weather summary for the month of April. Normal temperature for April is 48.5 degrees. The normal temperature for April, 1990, was 48.6 degrees. The first 19 days of the month the normal temperature was 39.5 degrees, much below normal. The last 11 days of the month, the average temperature was 64.5 degrees, much above normal. Normal precipitation is 3.54 inches for the month of April with 2.45 inches being received in April of this year. Normal precipitation from January 1 to May 1 is 9.59 inches. This year, 12.51 inches have been received. Normal snowfall for April is 1.5 inches. This year .75 inch has been recorded. Mr. Steury stated that 59.1 degrees will probably be the average tempera ture expected for the month of May. The warmest day in May was May 31, 1934, with a temperature of 94 degrees. The coldest day in Mav was May 4, 1926, with a temperature of 24 degrees. The month of May in 1977 was the warmest with an average temperature of 68.1. The coldest month of May was in 1917 with an average temperature of 52 degrees. Average precipitation for May is 3.44 inches with 10.75 inches being accumulated in 1943. The driest May ever was in 1925 with only 1.21 inches.

Miller's Merry Manor to hold carnival May 20

The second annual Miller’s Merry Manor Carnival will be Sunday, May 20, in the parking lot of the facility at the intersection of Pickwick and Harkless Roads in Syracuse. The carnival will be from 12:30-5 p.m. Feature attractions will be a Ronald McDonald show at 2:30 p.m., Port-A-Pit chicken and ribs from 11 a.m.-3 p.m., a “Save-A-Life” fire house all day and carnival games for all ages in which everyone wins a prize. The games include the popular “Moonwalk.” The Wawasee High School “Dream Company” will perform at 1:30 p.m.

Warsaw man charged after accident

David L. Berry, 56, r 1 box 176, Warsaw, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated and driving a vehicle with a blood alcohol content above .10. Berry was involved in a twovehicle accident Saturday, April 28, at 9:13 a.m., on SR 13 just south of the police station. Berry suffered a possible fracture to his neck and was taken to Kosciusko Community Hospital. North Webster Town Marshal Jerry Craig reported Berry was

Tools stolen from Farm and Fleet

Crime Stoppers, a nonprofit organization involving the police, the media and the public in the fight against crime, offers anonymity and cash rewards to persons who furnish information leading to the arrest and the filing of criminal charges against felony offenders and the capture of fugitives. «®PERS The following “Crime of the Week” was furnished by the Kosciusko County Crime Stoppers organization: The burglary and theft of the Quality Farm Fleet Store in War-

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Along with the chicken and ribs, there will also be baked potatoes, pies, cakes, cookies, mouse ears and drinks. Advance tickets for the chicken and ribs are available at Miller’s Merry Manor or from any employee or volunteer. Tickets will also be available the day of the carnival. A drive-through service will be available the day of the carnival. Proceeds from the carnival will go towards the activity department, to be used for residents’ benefits and also to local nonprofit oranizations to better serve the community.

traveling south in a 1981 Oldsmobile Coupe when it struck a parked 1986 Chevrolet van in front of Olsen’s Carpentry Shop. The van is owned by Clint Olsen, P.O. Box 186, North Webster. The impact of the collision caused Olsen’s van to go across the sidewalk and into a yard, where children had been playing moments before. Witnesses told police, Berry was driving erratically prior to the accident.

saw is the “Crime of the Week.” Sometime late Thursday night, April 19, three subjects forcibly entered the Quality Farm Fleet Store on US 30E, Warsaw. Once inside, the three subjects took tools from within the store and used them to force open two safes inside the store. The subjects then left the store with over SI,OOO in cash. Investigators have determined that the suspects were inside the building between 2:15 and 3:30 a m. Friday morning, April 20. Persons with information concerning this burglary are asked to call Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-342-STOP. Crime Stoppers will pay up to SI,OOO if the information leads to an arrest or indictment. Crime Stoppers also pays cash rewards on other felony crimes and the capture of fugitives. Callers will be assigned a code number and will not be asked to reveal their names.