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.

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.

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.

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

GSWC Workshop

The Genealogical Society of Whitley County (GSWC) held a Beginning Genealogy Workshop in conjunction with the Peabody Public Library on Saturday, March 17th. Attendance was limited to 20 people and the spaces quickly filled up. We were told there were enough people who wanted to attend that we should have another workshop - so, we will, on Sunday, May 20th. We are also planning a workshop for the kids who sign up for the 4-H Genealogy program, probably sometime in April.

My portion of the workshop covered "Internet Genealogy" and was only supposed to be 45 minutes. It ran a bit long, like an hour and 15 minutes total. Thank goodness there weren't any problems connecting to the internet! Randy Seaver mentioned that he'd had some connection problems with his presentation on blogging - I hadn't even considered that scenario. Guess I'd better make alternate plans, just in case.

As promised to the attendees, the Web Site Links have been posted at Kinexxions to make it easier for them to visit the sites listed on the handout (and so they don't have to try to type in the URLs for those sites). Have Fun!

Capt. Sarjeant, Veteran of Two Wars is Dead - 1906

I came across this interesting obituary the other day while looking for something else... published in the Columbia City Commercial Mail on July 13, 1906
= = = = = = = =
Captain James E. Sarjeant, of 1426 Wells street, Fort Wayne, who was widely known among people of the older generation; a veteran of both the Mexican and civil wars and a resident of Columbia City, for many years, died Friday night at 5:45 o’clock from a complication of stomach and kidney troubles and the infirmities of old age. Mr. Sarjeant was seventy-nine years old. He had been seriously ill since Tuesday of this week.

Few men have had a more eventful career than Captain James E. Sarjeant. He was born in Canterbury, Kent, (England), September 27, 1827, and was one of a family of sixteen children. With his parents, Mr. and Mrs. James Sarjeant, and a brother and sister he came to this country in the early ‘40’s. The family settled in Fort Wayne shortly after their arrival in America and Mr. Sarjeant began to learn the harness making trade. He developed into an expert workman, and later in life embarked in business for himself.

Mr. Sarjeant was a soldier in the Mexican war, enlisting in 1846 at New Albany in the First Indiana regiment. He served for one year and was actively engaged in the celebrated battles of Matamoras, Monterey and Buena Vista. At the end of his term of service he was honorably discharged and went back to the quiet life of the civilian.

Then in 1861 came the outbreaking of the war that threatened the existence of the union, and Mr. Sarjeant, along with thousands of other men in the north, swept with the passionate resolve that the union should not be destroyed, prepared to again enter military life. He enlisted from Whitley county, April 25, 1861, and was the second man to enlist for service in the great civil war from Whitley county. He enlisted in Company E 17th Ind., under Capt. Geo. W. Stough and was made 1st Lieut. at Indianapolis before the organization entered the service. The regiment did valiant service in the West Virginia campaign. Capt. Sarjeant resigned in 1862 and returned to Columbia City. The same year he organized Co. B 74th Ind., and was made captain of the company.

During the war he was in some of the principal battles where heavy losses of live were sustained by the union forces. At Chickamauga, Perrysville and Rolling Forks he did valiant service on the field. At the battle of Rolling Forks he was wounded in the knee by the fragment of a bursting shell.

Captain Sarjeant, who in later years was fond of telling his experiences and of the many narrow escapes which he and the men under him had in the war, often related how while in battle one day he noticed the simultaneous discharge of a number of shells in the direction of his company, and in a flash his mind dictated the command to lie down. His men in obedience flattened themselves on the earth, thus minimizing the danger that would otherwise have caused the deaths of many. As it was, only seven or eight of the number were killed.

In 1863 he was granted an honorable discharge on account of disability and came home to live the life of a private citizen, re-entering the harness business which he had forsaken at the opening of the war.

Since the close of the civil war Captain Sarjeant lived with his family in adjoining parts of the state, at Columbia City, Auburn, and for eight years in Wisconsin. For the past twenty years, however, Fort Wayne has been his home.

Capt. Sarjeant was married Sept, 28, 1848, to Miss Margaret Gill, who lived in Whitley county not far from Columbia City. From this union eleven children were born, only two of whom survive – Mrs. Henry Meyers, of Cincinnati, O., and Mrs. Mattie Rodwick, of Richmond, Ind. There is also a sister living – Mrs. Charlotte Swain, residing at 323 West De Wald street in Fort Wayne. There are twelve grandchildren, some living in Ohio, some in this state, some in Illinois and some in California.

Capt. Sarjeant was a member of the Union Veteran legion and of Sion S. Bass post No. 40, G. A. R. He was a man not only of a wide acquaintance but of a great many friends both among young and old. He was quiet and unassuming in manner and not given to making wide acquaintanceships.

Capt. Sarjeant entered the saddlery business in Columbia City in 1854 in a building owned by F. H. Foust the site of which is now occupied by the building in which S. O. Briggs conducts a plumbing business. He was an expert saddler and enjoyed a liberal patronage. He returned to Columbia City after the close of the war and resumed the saddlery business [part of sentence blacked out on microfilm] until 1882, when he removed his family to Fort Wayne. Some of Capt. Sarjeant’s children died in this city and are buried in the Masonic cemetery. Capt. Sarjeant married Margaret Gill, daughter of Abner Gill, who resided on the William Sisson farm east of this city, in 1848.

The time of the funeral has yet not been determined as it is not known when members of the family desiring to attend the services can be present. Interment will be in the Lindenwood cemetery.

Township Graduates - May 10, 1888

Columbia City Commercial - Thursday May 10, 1888

The grades on one-hundred and thirty-one manuscripts, handed in at the township examinations, show a total of thirty-one worthy of graduation. They are classified by townships as follows:

• Cleveland – Cora Cocklin.
• Richland – Letta Adams, Mary E. Clugston, Florence Essig, Theodore Essig, Nora Gutscher, William F. Helfrik, Effie Kirkpatrick, Effie Long, Allice Prugh, Frank Radcliff, Carl Souder and Fred E. Webster.
• Columbia – Thomas Galvin and Ida Shoemaker.
• Thorncreek – Ida Magley and Nellie Hart.
• Jefferson – Herbert Ihrig, Horrace Kaufman and Orphia Dine.
• Union – Harvey Harshbarger, Lola Garrison, Jennie Myers, Sarah Boyd and J. A. More.
• Smith – Cozy Tulley and Lillie Waugh.
• Churubusco – Minnie Brown, Anna Knopp, Charles Kipp and Ida Jackson.

These with the assistance of their teachers will be expected to arrange the time and place for holding exercises. Only those taking part in an exercise will be granted diplomas. Alex Knicely.

Co E 17th Indiana Held Reunion

Columbia City Post - Tuesday September 18, 1912

Company E. 17th Indiana Volunteer Infantry, veterans of the Civil War, reunited at the pleasant home of Isaac Shinneman in the northwest part of the city Saturday, and the soldiers who had fought in 210 battles and skirmishes during their term of four years and four months enlistment, recalled many incidents of the battlefield and reviewed events and circumstances which made the occasion one of special interest to the few remaining of the 176 who enlisted April 21, 1861.

Last year, when Major J. J. Weiler, of Los Angeles, Cal., was present, there were 18 veterans in attendance, but during the year seven of that eighteen have passed to the world beyond. They were D. R. Hemmick, John Hess, William Brubaker, Joe Hiler, of North Dakota, E. A. Mossman, of Lafayette, Ind., Hiram Lantz and Fred Smith, of North Manchester. It is thought that there are but about twenty of the original company left now.

Those of the company who were present Saturday were David Garber, aged 79; Isaac Shinneman, aged 70; Reuben Humbarger, aged 74; Otis Hertsel, aged 66; Joseph Waugh, aged 69; Lewis Hartman, aged 70; and James L. Johnson, aged 72. Co. E belonged to the best armed and equipped brigade in the service and was noted for its ability to tear up a country. They had ten pieces of artillery and were in the famous battles of Shilo, Chickamauga and from the latter place marched to Atlanta, which was one of the greatest marches of the war.

One of the principal features of the day was a fine dinner served at the Shinneman home which the soldiers greatly relished. Other guests who enjoyed Mrs. Shinneman’s hospitality were: Mrs. I. B. McDonald, Mrs. Otis Hertsel, Mrs. Joe Waugh, Miss Elsie Humbarger, Mrs. Justice Sherwood, Mrs. William Allen, of Coesse, Mrs. John Hess and daughter, Miss Lulu, and Mrs. John Shinneman, Jr. Mrs. Shinneman was assisted by her daughters, Misses Maude, Kate and May, and the other ladies present assisted in making the event a memorable one.

Company E. will meet again next year, and it is the intention to hold these reunions as long as there are members left to attend them. This company was composed of some of the best men Whitley county ever produced and since the close of the war, many of them resumed peaceful occupations and gave their best efforts to the upbuilding of the communities in which they have resided.

Death of Mrs. Wright November 3, 1869

Whitley County Commercial ~ November 3, 1869

Died. - - In this place, on the 29th ult., a Mrs. Wright, who had but recently came to Columbia City. It is thought that trouble was the cause of her death. She leaves two little girls, one 3 and the other 5 years of age. The remains of the deceased were interred on Saturday, and news of her death sent to her relatives in the South part of the State.

I checked the various cemetery transcriptions that have been published for Wright and variations, but found no Mrs. Wright who died in 1869.