Monday, April 30, 2007

School Days - Carnival of Genealogy

The topic for the upcoming edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is School Days. Several articles from Whitley County newspapers on various schools have been posted on Whitley Kinexxions and more will be added as I get the time to transcribe them. Future posts related to schools in Whitley County can be found by using the "schools" label.

Sunday, April 29, 2007

Junior-Senior Reception Larwill High School 1917

Columbia City Post - May 5, 1917

The Junior-Senior reception of the Larwill high school was held at the home of Jacob Sappington, Tuesday evening, May the 1st, with grand success. The house was decorated with the Senior class colors which were green and white and the Junior class colors which were purple and gold. It put in a very beautiful appearance. Different games were played and at a late hour refreshments were served which consisted of sandwiches, pickles, fruit-salad, and cookies. After refreshments were served we had some music on the organ by Miss Bernice Roberts.

Those present were: Paul Smith, Bernice Roberts, Claude Anspaugh, Hazel James, Viola Hartman, Julia Dowell, Orphia Long, Irene Butler, Leo Cunningham, Ruth Barney, Dale Van Voorst, Ruth Pritchard, Clyde Long, Talmage Leedy, Ellis Dowell, Leo Lansdown, Hiram Hazen, Dewey Souders, Emmett Zumbrum, Florence Picon, Ruth Sappington, Carl McGraw, Jacob Sappington, Constance Lancaster, Elsie Marchand, Chloe Cunningham, Esther Smith, Mrs. Jane Evard, of Monroeville, Ind., Mr. and Mrs. James Sappington, Paul Prugh, Kenneth Beard, Carl Pritchard and Jake George Marrs. We had the honor of having with us Forrest Deeter our esteemed treasurer. On account of sickness it was impossible for Paul Rager, a jolly Junior, to be present.

A GUEST.

Saturday, April 21, 2007

Local News - December 29, 1917

Columbia City Post, Whitley County, Indiana
Saturday, December 29, 1917

Thank Their Friends.

Mrs. William Bordner and daughter Miss Sarah Bordner wish to thank their neighbors and friends for a miscellaneous Christmas shower which was given them a few days ago. They greatly appreciate the kindness.

Licensed to Wed.
Herbert Kneller, son of Dan Kneller, of Thorncreek township, and Miss Marie Hartsough, daughter of Edward Hartsough, of this county secured a license to wed Saturday afternoon. both of the young people have many friends who wish them much happiness. They will reside on a farm.

New Babe at the Oren Clark Home.
Vesta Annabelle Clark is the name of a baby girl born to Mr. and Mrs. Oren Clark Saturday forenoon. Dr. B. F. Linvill was the attending physician. Mr. Clark is one of the city carriers and he hustled around in great style Saturday afternoon.

Will Take Short Course at Purdue.
Nile Nolt will leave Sunday for LaFayette, Ind., where he will take the short course offered by Purdue University. He is a son of County Commissioner Jonas Nolt, and he is anxious to get onto the most approved methods of farming. The short course at Purdue is being attended each year by more and more farmers, many of them men in middle age.

Two Fellows Home From Camp Taylor.
Vic Phend and Earl Bordner are both home for short furloughs from Camp Zachary Taylor, Louisville, Ky. The former came Thursday evening. He is in the engineers and likes his work very much. He has grown heavier, weighing about one hundred and eighty pounds and he looks every inch a man now. Earl Bordner is in the medical detachment of the engineers and he, too, has benefited by his training. He is a half inch taller and is also heavier. He will be here until Tuesday, visiting with his father, R. J. Bordner, and others.

Entertained Guests.
Mr. and Mrs. H. H. Auer entertained a few guests to six o'clock dinner Friday evening. Those present were Mr. and Mrs. Lawrence D. Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Snyder, Miss Edith Miller and Miss Minnie Auer, who is home on a vacation from school at Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Jones, of North Line street, entertained Dr. Alice B. Williams and mother, Mrs. C. S. Williams, and Irvin Brown and family at six o'clock dinner Saturday evening.

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

San Francisco Earthquake - April 25, 1906

Today, April 18th, is the anniversary of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake. The articles below tell of the experiences of two Whitley County men who were in the area at the time.

Columbia City Post, Wednesday April 25, 1906

Ancil Brown, son of Alvin Brown of this city, was in Berkeley, California, at the time of the earthquake and had an experience he will not soon forget. The following letter to his father gives his experience in detail:

Berkeley, Cal., April 19, 1906. My Dear Father: - - Great Horror and loss of life has come to the people in San Francisco and Berkeley and in fact all towns along the Pacific coast. This panic is in the form of a terrible earthquake and fire.

At 5:13 a.m. yesterday, April 18th, there was a great shock which tumbled the brick chimnies of nearly every home and totally wrecking a great many. Our home (Aunt Ella's) was shaken up badly, knocking down all the chimnies and springing the house in such a shape that it is impossible to close the doors or raise the windows and cracking the plaster in nearly every room. The china on the shelves and the vases on the tables were knocked off and broken. We all woke up immediately and ran out of the house so badly frightened it was some time before we regained our senses, the seemingly breaking of the timbers and shaking of the house made us think every minute the house would collapse upon us.

The fire was all over in San Francisco, none in Berkeley. I was over to the city all day yesterday and today and the sights are awful - many blocks all a mass of blaze and the dead and dying being carried from the ruins by the hundreds. It is estimated that a thousand people are killed. The ruin by fire will probably cover a distance of 25 blocks in length and 19 blocks wide right through the business part of town and many blocks in the best residence portion burned to the ground.

The fire was caused by the shock knocking down stoves and throwing fire from fire places, the people running from fright of the shock and paying no attention to the fire, and, too, the water mains were broken in the ground and they could get no water. I will send you the papers giving the details of the catastrophe. They are all O K and they think the shocks are over but still there has been several small ones since the first heavy shock. We are all sleeping out in the yard for fear there may be some more severe quakes, all the people in the city are doing the same.

Columbia City Post, Saturday April 28, 1906

Mr. and Mrs. Joe Archer, of Thorncreek township, received a postal card Wednesday from their son Earl who is now at Potter's Valley, California. They were exceedingly glad to hear from him and to learn that he was safe. He has been on the Pacific coast for over a year and spent the winter at Mercedes, going to Potter Valley recently. It is about 40 miles from San Francisco. The shock was distinctly felt there, but no damage was done. The following card from him to the publisher is interesting:

Potters Valley, Cal., April 20, 06. Due to effects of earthquake at about 5 o'clock Wednesday a. m. April 18, the city of San Francisco is a total ruin from the sea front to 24th street. The jar caused the large stone and steel structures to collapse and the earth to sink away from six to eleven feet. The settling away of the earth destroyed all of the water pipes. Fire broke out and consumed everything that withstood the first shock. As the water supply was cut off entirely dynamite was used in an effort to stop the conflagration. Magnificent steel and stone 14 story buildings were blown up without effect.

Pandemonium reigns, thousands are left without shelter or food and are sleeping under the shrubbery of Golden Gate Park and other out of the way places. those who have money are fleeing to neighboring smaller towns. City is under military law and entrance cut off; necessities of life are very high. Meals that were from ten cents to twenty-five are now fifty and one dollar, a loaf of brad fifty cents, water 10 cents a cup. Death loss over one thousand. Papers published of disaster sell for $1.50 a piece. E. D. Archer.

Sunday, April 15, 2007

Local News - June 12, 1915

Columbia City Post, Whitley County, Indiana ~ Saturday, June 12, 1915
  • Miss Mildred Jones, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. C. I. Jones, of Spencer street, arrived home Tuesday evening from Oskaloosa, Iowa, where she has been dean of the physical training department of Oskaloosa College during the past year. School has been out there for some time but Miss Jones has been visiting with friends at Madison, Wis., and other points. She will remain here until June 26th, when she will go to Chicago, where she will take advanced training work in physical culture. She will return to Oskaloosa next fall, as she has been very successful in her work there. She is a graduate of Earlham College.
  • Lewis E. Maloney, a son of James L. Maloney, of Churubusco, and a brother of P. J. Maloney, of this city, arrived home Tuesday evening from Purdue University, where he has completed three years in the Agricultural department. He has one more year of that work before he will have completed his course. His training is along the lines of scientific farming, and Prof. George I. Christie, of Purdue, who is one of the recognized authorities in this country on the subject, states that the inquiries to the university for trained scientific farmers far exceeds the number who qualify themselves for this work. The near future will demand greater production from the tillable lands in this country and it can only be done by applying scientific methods to agricultural work.
  • Herbert McCleary, who has been visiting for a few days with O. H. Diffendarfer and family, of South Main street, returned to his home in Toledo, Ohio, Thursday noon.
  • Mrs. Keyes Harris, of Union township, went to South Whitley, Thursday, to be at the bedside of her mother, Mrs. Sam Albright.
  • Mrs. Will Grund suffered a hemorrhage of the lungs Thursday forenoon and was quite sick from the effects of it. She is under the care of Dr. Ben P. Linvill.

Sunday, April 8, 2007

News from Camp Morton - May 28, 1861

Columbia City News ~ Friday May 28, 1861
Camp Morton, May 24, 1861.


Dear News: - - Your old friend and well wisher is in camp; quartered with the "Whitley Boys" and are all in good health. We arrived here by way of Railroad via Ft. Wayne, Peru and Indianapolis. We got along finely until near Kokomo, at a little place called Fairfield, 25 miles from Peru; here one of our boys and a brakeman got into a collision; got up quite a muss, indeed. The conductor became enraged and in his pet let us off on a side track. Mr. Samuel Keefer, Capt. Geo. Stough, and your correspondent got on the train and went to Indianapolis and got the matter arranged.

Hon. David Macy, President of the Road, sent Mr. Robinson, Superintendent, down to bring our company up. Captain Stough and myself went along; at 2 o'clock, P. M., we reached the place where the Boys were lying; in a few minutes we were off for Indianapolis, at which place we arrived in due time; we got into camp about six o'clock, got our rations, eat them (after cooking) with much avidity; all then took a good sleep for the first night.

The boys all speak well of Hon. Dave Macy and Mr. Robinson for their promptness in our behalf, but are down on that Conductor and Brakeman with a vengeance. "Shouldn't wonder." I will here say that our good friend Samuel Keefer stuck to us like a true man, and our boys will remember him with much pleasure. Owing to the fact that we have not got settled yet, I cannot give you anything very definite about our destination. We have been transferred from the State service to the United States service. This transfer I was in many respects opposed to, but from many influences which were brought to bear on the boys, they consented to be transferred.

I hope it will all be for the best. I think the war will not last more than 10 or 12 weeks - this is the general impression. I am now writing in the office of Colonel Beriton, of the 8th Regiment, who is a gallant officer and noble good fellow. I am at home in his office; he is from Wayne County near Richmond; his regiment was favored with a most splendid regiment banner from the ladies of Indianapolis and Terry Haute, which was a splendid affair. I must close for this time. I hope you and your readers will all flourish like the Cedars of Lebanon. So, Good-bye. Mac.

Departure of the Whitley Volunteers - May 28, 1861

Columbia City News ~ Friday May 28, 1861

Departure of the Whitley Volunteers. - - On Tuesday evening last, Captain Stough's command took its departure from this place for headquarters, in pursuance of orders received from Adjutant-General J. M. Wallace, the day previous to starting. At about 10 ½ o'clock, the order was given to march for the depot; the utmost enthusiasm prevailed, both soldiers and citizens being in good spirits. Messrs. Myers and Douglas entertained the soldiers and people in appropriate speeches until the cars arrived. It was a sad spectacle to witness the parting of husband and wife, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers with their sons, the lover with his sweetheart, and friends with their neighbors. Below we give a Roll List of Whitley County Volunteers, Company No. 1.

Officers.
  • Captain, George W. Stough
  • 1st Lieut., James E. Seargent
  • 2d Lieut and Ensign, Isaiah B. McDonald
  • 1st Sergeant, Nimrod Smith
  • 2nd Sergeant, James K. Ward
  • 3rd Sergeant, Cyrus J. Ward
  • 4th Sergeant, John T. Drury
  • 1st Corporal, Edward B. Beeson
  • 2nd Corporal, David Garver
  • 3rd Corporal, Ed. A. Mossman
  • 4th Corporal, David R. Hemmick
  • Drummer, Nicholas Beesack, Jr.

Privates.

  • Wm. F. Johnson
  • Robert S. Pumphrey
  • Philo H. Ginger
  • Wm. M. Barnhill
  • Frederick G. Ford
  • D. N. Brown
  • David Stough
  • Nicholas Bear
  • M. V. Hammond
  • Samuel Parker
  • Joseph Beesack
  • Anderson Speer
  • Dennis M. Shoemaker
  • H. B. Smith
  • Alexander Showalter
  • William Brubaker
  • John Bennet
  • Milton Whiteman
  • George T. Roley
  • W. L. Birney
  • Jacob Dinsmore
  • George W. Elder
  • Joseph Fries
  • T. W. Piper
  • Joseph W. Hiler
  • Henry Banta
  • Charles L. Wildor
  • Isaac Leamon
  • Samuel K. Snyder
  • John Raypole
  • Joseph A. Poff
  • John H. Slagle
  • Isaac W. Shinneman
  • John Wireman
  • A. B. Dudley
  • Joseph Effert
  • Henry Moore
  • J. H. Nelson
  • Wm. B. Sumney
  • Welcome Rice
  • Henry Snavely
  • James M. Hartman
  • Henry C. Pressler
  • William Grimes
  • John J. Weiler
  • T. J. Gardner
  • William Forrest
  • Walter S. Collins
  • Samuel English
  • Anthony Seymour, Jr.
  • J. J. Conrad
  • J. W. Wilson
  • Sidney Tuttle
  • Francis L. Rhodes
  • John E. Sherod
  • N. H. King
  • Francis M. Slagle
  • Frederick Smidt
  • Oliver Droud
  • Jesse Kyler
  • W. F. Johnson
  • M. C. Plummer
  • John Ward
  • S. O. Shoup
  • Lewis Hartman
  • G. W. Hartsch
  • Jesse Rowles
  • W. H. West
  • Lewis R. Whiteman
  • Thos R. Hawkins
  • J. M. Moore
  • Theo. A. Smith
  • J. W. Lawhorn
  • J. W. Adair
  • Henry Haines