Monday, March 30, 2009

Whitley County History Books Online

It was about a year ago that I wrote that the 1882 History of Whitley County (by Goodspeed and Blanchard) was available online through the The Harold B. Lee Library Digital Collections.

Now, I've just discovered that Google Books has the 1907 History of Whitley County, Indiana by S. P. Kaler & R. H. Maring online. They say it was digitized a year ago, but I didn't find it until recently.

Both books are searchable online and can also be downloaded.

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Becky is Recovering

Just wanted to share with all of Becky's fans that she came through surgery fine and is now on the road to a complete recovery. Her spirits are good, and she is looking forward to being released from the hospital in a few days She also looks forward to getting back online soon. She thanks you again for all your prayers and kind thoughts.

Charlotte

Friday, January 30, 2009

Has Enlisted As A Red Cross Nurse (1917)

Columbia City Post October 6, 1917

Miss Dora Miller, daughter of Henry Miller, of Thorncreek township, has enlisted as Red Cross nurse but she has not yet been called and it is her opinion that she probably will not be before spring or late winter. She is here at the present time visiting relatives but leaves Sunday for Clinton, Iowa where she has been living for several years, following her profession of trained nurse. Miss Miller is not worrying about the dangers of the submarine on the way over.

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Celebrated Golden Wedding Anniversary (1917)

Columbia City Post, Saturday December 29, 1917

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emery, of Washington Township, Have Traveled Life’s Journey Together for Fifty Years.

On Saturday, Dec. 29, 1917, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emery, of Washington township, celebrated their Golden Wedding anniversary – 50 years of married life. They were married in 1867 by Rev. Austin, long since dead and gone.

In 1844 Henry Emery came by wagon and ox team from his home in Wayne county, Ohio, near Wooster. They came by ox team until they reached the old Wabash and Maumee canal where they loaded their few worldly effects and traveled by boat until they reached Huntington. Here they spent the first night with John Kenauer.

Thomas was then two years old and he has resided in Washington township ever since. He says he can remember the Indians who came through on hunting expeditions and it was quite common during his early boyhood to see Indians going back and forth from the Little Wabash to those near Columbia City. At this time Washington township was just a mass of swamps and ague reigned supreme. They cleared a little ground and farmed around the swamps and conservation of food was a great item then because they did not have any to spare, and the early settler had to bear many hardships and sacrifices to make this the first township in Whitley county.

Mrs. Fannie Huffman Emery came to this county with her parents in 1848, she then being 4 years old, from their home in Darke county, Ohio. They came by wagons and drove what stock they had with them. They located in Washington township on the old Huffman homestead where Thomas Huffman now resides, and it was here that on Dec. 29, 1867, she was married. At the age of 5 years her father lost his life while digging a well and this left the mother with three small children to clear a home in the wilderness of Indiana.

On last Saturday, being the fiftieth anniversary they celebrated it in a quiet way at their home and those who were there were: Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Emery, Mr. and Mrs. J. Lee Emery and children, Lucille and Thomas, Mr. and Mrs. John E. Long and children, Emery and Marshall, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. H. Gross and children, Velma, Dorothy and Eudora, Mr. and Mrs. H. E. Emery and daughter, Marie, and Mr. and Mrs. Sid Hall and son, Glenn, of Huntington, Ind.

Monday, January 26, 2009

Wolfe-Schneider Wedding (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Saturday September 22, 1917

Misses Alice and Esther Wolfe, employed at the Superior Garment factory, visited the fair at Bremen, Ind., during the week of Sept. 4th. Miss Alice returned Sunday, but Miss Esther Wolfe and Melvin L. Schneider, of Bremen, went to Kalamazoo, Mich., where they were married at 10 o’clock Monday morning, Sept. 10th by Rev. Alonzo B. Garman, of the German Lutheran church. The groom is a highly esteemed young man with a large circle of friends, and a son of Mr. and Mrs. John Schneider, of Bremen, Ind., a retired farmer. The groom is a fireman on the B. & O. railroad.

The bride also has a large circle of friends and is the daughter of Mrs. John Wolfe of this city. The bride is an industrious young lady and has been employed at the Superior Garment factory for the last 5 years. The bride was dressed in taffeta with Georgette crepe drape. She carried bridal roses, and a double ring ceremony was performed. The wedding was a surprise to the parents of the young couple as well as to their friends. A beautiful home is being furnished for them at Bremen, where they will make their future home. Congratulations are extended to the happy couple.

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Kelly Buys Out Phil Farren (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Saturday, September 22, 1917

Wednesday morning, August Kelly, who has been in the tailoring business here for several years, bought out the half interest of Phil Farren in the Dry Cleaning plant owned by Mr. Farren and Joe Yontz. The new firm will now be known as Kelly & Yontz, and they expect to do all sorts of dry cleaning, handling suits, rugs, ladies dresses, and other goods which need to be washed. The equipment which Farren & Yontz have kept in the Otto Langohr shop in the Washburn block, will be moved to Mr. Kelly's shop in the Grisier room on Van Buren street. Mr. Farren will travel about selling clothes, pianos and talking machines.

The new combination of Kelly & Yontz is composed of two hustlers and they will doubtless continue to enjoy a big patronage, just as their predecessors did.

Thursday, January 22, 2009

Swigarts Celebrated Golden Wedding (1917)

Columbia City Post, Wednesday September 5, 1917

Mr. and Mrs. John Swigart, of Troy township, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary, Sunday at Troy Cedar Lake. There were about a hundred and fifty friends, relatives and neighbors present. John Swigart and Sarah Burwell were married February 14, 1867, at Beech Chapel by Rev. Wells. Eight children were born to this union, four of whom survive; they are Mrs. Cora Yoder, of Ligonier, Mrs. William Ramsey of Thorncreek township, Mrs. Minnie Clark of Troy township, and J. L. Swigart of Joplin, Missouri. There are eleven grand children and 5 great grand children, and all were present except two grandsons, Oral Raymond Swigart, who is at Annapolis and Glen Swigart, of Detroit, Michigan. The only relatives from a distance were Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Swigart of Joplin, Missouri.

A sumptuous picnic dinner was served at the noon hour, and the afternoon was spent in a social way, with music by a victrola, and bathing and boating.

Mr. and Mrs. Swigart received a number of presents from their friends, among them was a very large boquet [sic] of flowers from Mrs. Mary Sherwood, who was unable to be present, and also a big wedding cake, decorated very prettily with the year of their wedding on the top in colors, from Mrs. Charles Jaggar. They also received $15 in gold. After a most enjoyable day, the guests departed for their homes and wished Mr. and Mrs. Swigart many happy returns of their anniversary.

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Another Couple Eloped to Michigan (1917)

Columbia City Post, Saturday June 16, 1917

Claude Moore, son of Mrs. William Hazen, residing just outside the corporation line near the Zuber Drain Tile company, and Miss Gladys Burnworth, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Burnworth, of the south side, left Thursday morning for Kalamazoo, Mich., intending to secure a marriage license there and to be married. Mr. Moore is employed as shipping clerk at the Panhandle depot and is an ambitious young man with a bright future. His bride was employed at the Superior Garment factory and is a charming young lady. They have the best wishes of their local friends for a happy and prosperous life. They will reside here.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Attended Big Chicago Sale (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Saturday, June 9, 1917

James Galvin, of this city, and John Hammer, of Union township, attended the Maxwalton Shorthorn cattle sale at the stockyards in Chicago, June 7th. The sale was conducted by Carpenter 7 Ross, of Mansfield, Ohio, and amounted to $140,000. One hundred head of find bred registered Shorthorn cattle sold at this sale. The cattle averaged $1,400 per head and one of the fine bred cows was purchased by John Hammer who remained in Chicago over Friday.

Earl Marshal, bull, bred by Alexander Combrie, of New Machar, Scotland, sold for $1,550; Imperial Caledonai, bull, bred by William Anderson, Oldmeldrum, Scotland, sold at $7,000; Imperial Lorne, bull, bred in Scotland, sold for $2,500; Imperial Monteith Silver Star, bull, bred at Kippen Station, sold at $2,700; Proud Baronet, bred in Scotland, sold at $3,250; Imperial Mistress Edith, cow, bred by Mrs. C. W. Tindall, Lincs, England, sold to John Hammer, of Union township, at $1,350.

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Laud & Tunker News (1917)

Columbia City Post ~ Wednesday, May 23, 1917

Laud News
  • Mr. and Mrs. Allie Baker are the proud parents of a baby girl; her name is Celestine. Dr. White was in attendance.
  • Fred Sweitzer, Fred Johnson, George Souder, A. Nei, of Innwood, Dr. and Mrs. Anderson, of Argus, and Mr. and Mrs. A. Staley, of Plymouth, all spent Sunday at the Dr. Farmer home.
  • Dr. White and wife motored to Ft. Wanye, Monday.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Dale White and two daughters and Mrs. Dr. White motored to Indianapolis, Saturday, to visit the latter's sister, Mrs. Jack Schaffer.
  • The Catholic Ladies Sewing Circle will meet with Mrs. Ernest Phillips, west of the city, Thursday afternoon.
Tunker News
  • John Moyer, of near Dayton, Ohio, is here visiting his cousin, Charles M. Stump. He says they have had a very cold, backward, wet spring and the corn there has just been planted. His wheat he says is over knee high to him and the prospect for a crop are good. He also raises tobacco and left Monday for home to begin the planting of 10 acres of it.
  • Mr. and Mrs. Omar Anderson, of Fort Wayne, visited over Sunday with the latter's sister, Mrs. Harley Baker.