The Bluffton news. [volume], November 09, 1939, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXTV
DEMOCRATS, REPUBLICANS,
W. A. Howe, Republican, was elect
ed mayor of Bluffton, Tuesday. Howe,
present incumbent, defeated A. D.
Wells, Democratic candidate by a vote
of 713 to 322, in one of the heaviest
off year balloting in the history’ of the
town.
Howe, former president of the town
council became mayor last year filling
the vacancy caused by the resignation
of J. Norman King who was elected
to that office two years ago.
Republicans also took the clerk’s of
fice when James West defeated Carold
Steiner, Democrat, running for re
election by a vote of 733 to 289.
Samuel Bixel, Democrat, was re-el
ected treasurer, defeating Ralph Bad
ertscher, Republican by a vote of 544
to 413.
Bluffton voters returned Lee Coon,
Democrat, as marshal for a third
term. Coon defeated Carl Burkhart,
Republican by a vote of 779 to 248.
Town council will be evenly divided
with three Republicans: Munson Bix
el, Armin Hauenstein and Cleon Trip
lett and three Democrats: Menno
Badertscher, Evan Basinger and R. A.
Patterson making up that body. Hau
enstein, Badertscher and Basinger
wre re-elected for a second term.
On the board of public affairs, two
members Eli Deppler and Wm. Lug
inbuhl were re-elected. The new mem
ber on the Board of Public Affairs is
A. C. Burcky, Bluffton college athlet
is coach and a former member of the
town council.
Two new members on the school
board, Waldo Hofstetter and Elmer
Short will take places of Peter Gratz
and Ralph Patterson whose terms ex
pire at the close of this year.
Allen Grismore, Richland township
trustee was re-elected to that position
and township counstables elected were
R. E. Griffith and E. C. Heller.
Three Vocational
Classes Organize
Three vocational trade school
classes for adults were organized
Tuesday night at a meeting in
high school assembly room.
Burcky, Deppler, Luginbuhl Elected to Board
of Public Affairs Hofstetter and Short
New School Board Members
the
the
and
The classes are affiliated with
Ohio Smith-Hughes program,
will meet weekly for a 20-weeks
course. Enrollment is open to any
interested adult.
A class in machine shop practice
will be taught by G. H. Klay, and
will meet each Tuesday night in the
Triplett machine shop.
G. W. Sigg will teach a class in
elementary electricity, which will
meet each Thursday night at the
high school. An advanced electricity
course, meeting on the same night,
will be taught by Jack Remde.
F. E. Wenger, coordinator of the
evening vocational trade school
courses, said this year’s program
will stress practical application
fundamental principles.
Regular classroom work will
gin next week, Wenger said.
of
be-
Eastern Star Holds
Annual Election
Annual election of the Bluffton
Eastern Star was held at a meeting
of the chapter on Friday night. The
following officers were elected to
serve for the coming year:
Worthy Matron, Dorothy Stratton
worthy patron, G. R. Bogart asso
ciate matron, Kathryn Steinman as
sociate patron, J. Forsythe secre
tary, Audrey Hofer treasurer, Em
ma Studler conductress, Theressa
Slusser associate conductress, Eve
lyn Beals trustee, Charlotte Marsh
all.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Byron Manges,
son, Wednesday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Griffith, Mt.
Cory, a son, Wednesday morning.
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Cooper,
Rawson, a son, Saturday.
NEW OFFICIALS
ELECTED HERE
following were elected
The
Bluffton and Richland Township
Tuesday’s election:
Mayor—W. A. Howe, R.
in
at
Clerk—James West, R.
Treasurer—Sam Bixel, D.
Marshal—Lee Coon, D.
Council—Munson Bixel, Armin
Hauenstein, Cleon Triplett,
Menno Badertscher, Evan Bas
inger, Ralph Patterson, D.
Board Public Affairs—Eli Deppler,
A. C. Burcky, Wm. Luginbuhl,
D.
School Board—Waldo Hofstetter,
Elmer Short, D.
Twp. Trustee—Allen Grismore, D.
Twp. Clerk-Treas.—Nahum Bas
inger, D.
Constables—R. E. Griffith, E. C.
Heller, D.
Former Local Hotel
Man Dies In Lima
Orlo W. Bessire, 62, former Bluff
ton hotel man, died in
morial hospital Monday
lowing a brief illness,
erated the Hotel Russel
thirty years ago.
Lima Me
night fol
Bessire op
here about
Beaverdam
Bessire was born in
and w’idely known thruout this sec
tion. After relinquishing his hotel
connection here he was manager of
the Radiant Oil company for a num
ber of years from which he was re
tired at the time of his death. He
was married to Anna Zehrbach of
this place who preceded him in death,
For the past twenty-five years he
was a resident of Lima until three
months ago when he moved
lina.
to Ce
Surviving are his father
of Columbus one son James
lina two
Querry of
Shenk of
Austin of
land and Fred of Los Angeles one
sister Mrs. Dave Allgier of
and five granddaughters.
Arnold
of Ce
F. A.
N. O.
daughters Mrs.
Lima and Mrs.
Delphos three brothers
Lima, Eugene of Cleve-
Lima
Lewis
morn
S. M.
Services will be held at
funeral home in Lima, Friday
ing at 10 o’clock with Rev.
Davidian pastor of Central Church
of Christ officiating. Burial will
in Woodlawn cemetery, Lima.
be
Bluffton P. T. A. To
Observe Book Week
Book week will be observed by the
Bluffton Parent Teacher association
at its meeting next
in the high school
7:30 o’clock.
Tuesday night
auditorium at
of the evening
Principal speaker
will be Mrs. A. M. Myers, instructor
in English at Bluffton college who
will address the association using
this year’s book week theme “Books
Around the World”.
Special music for the meeting is
being arranged by Miss Ruth Lam
bertus, high school music instructor
and devotionals will be in charge of
Rev. Emil Burrichter of the Re
formed church.
A display of children’s books ar
ranged by Mis Ocie Anderson, librar
ian, will be held in connection with
the meeting.
Z. T. Showalter, one of Bluffton’s
oldest residents, celebrated his ninety
first birthday anniversary on elec
tion day, Tuesday when he cast
ballot as
record of
election.
Bluffton and Beaverdam munici
palities voted dry at the election
Tuesday. The vote in both places
which bans the sale of intoxicating
liquor does not effect sale of 3.2 beer.
Bluffton voted dry by a majority
of 9. Total vote here stood: Dry
Keen
Bluffton Man, 91 Tuesday, Born
On Election Day Back In 1848
his
his
an
usual, maintaining
never having missed
election day, November 7,
Born on
1848, when Zachary Taylor was
chosen president at the close of a
furious campaign, the new arrival
CAST TUESDAY
Bluffton Polls Record ‘Off Year’
Ballot at Municipal Elec
tion Tuesday
Interest in Local Cam
paigns and Bond Issue
Attracts Vote
Casting what is by far the largest
vote ever recorded here in an “off
year” election, Bluffton’s three pre
cincts polled a total vote of 1,035,
Tuesday.
On a basis of an estimated total of
1,250 eligible voters, returns indicated
that nearly every voter in town went
to the polls. Heavy’ voting was also
reported in Richland township’s two
precincts and Beaverdam.
With three leading issues—sewer
bonds, local option and Bigelow state
amendments on the ballots in addition
to the regular city and township tick
ets—the incentive to vote was strong
and Bluffton electors turned out in
large numbers to express their wish
es.
Closing time for the polls on Tues
day night at 6:30 o’clock found num
bers of electors awaiting their turn in
the precinct voting places.
Unofficial returns Wednesday morn
ing indicated that the total vote ca^
is only slightly less than the 1,179
ballots cast here at the presidential
election three years ago.
The heavy vote was cast notwith
standing overcast skies thruout the
day and a heavy rain which fell early
in the afternoon. Streets thruout the
downtown district were lined with
automobiles, giving evidence thruout
the day that a large vote was being
cast.
Bluffton women stationed on every
corner throut the business section
were busy selling tags for benefit of
Bluffton’s Community hospital. The
Woman’s Hospital Auxiliary in charge
of the sale reported a thriving busi
ness and generous response.
Tabulation of the six ballots handed
to each elector proved a slow process
because of the large number of
scratched ballots. It was 4:30 a. m.
Wednesday when Precinct B, last to
report here, posted its final returns.
Notwithstanding the heavy vote, de
faced ballots were few, local election
officials stated.
The heavy vote this fall is in con
trast to the total vote of 283 cast
the primary here last August.
at
Special Services At
Presbyterian Church
Special evening services will be
held at the Presbyterian church dur
ing the coming week beginning Mon
day and continuing until Friday.
Various ministers of the. Lima Pres
bytery will speak each evening at
7:30 o’clock.
Speakers are as follows:
Monday—Dr. Chas. Plymate, gen
eral Presbyter of Dayton, Toledo and
Lima Presbyteries.
Tuesday—Rev. O. L. Willets, Mid
dlepoint.
Wednesday—Rev. Chester Armen
trout, Columbus Grove.
Thursday—Rev. Raymond Bair,
Rockford.
Friday—Rev. Robert Bowman, Ot
tawa.
in the home of Levi and Mahala
(Wade) Showalter in Union town
ship north of Bluffton was named
Zachary Taylor Showalter, in honor
of the staunch Whig president-elect.
Mr. Showalter is one of the pioneer
residents of this vicinity and not
withstanding his advanced years is
enjoying good health. He makes his
home with his daughter, Mrs. Ed
Hardwick of Railroad street.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 1939
HOWE MAYOR TOWN VOTES DRY SEWER ISSUE LOST
Bluffton Votes Dry In Local Option Election Held Here
Tuesday Beaverdam Also Swings Into County’s Dry Area
EVENLY DIVIDE COUNCIL PROJECT TURNED DOWN
561 wet
precincts:
Precinct
A—Dry 158 wet 193.
B—Dry 217 wet 127.
C—Dry 186 wet 145.
Precinct
Precinct
In Beaverdam the dry majority
Elected
HEAVY VOTE IS MANY FARMS
W. A. Howe who was chosen
mayor of Bluffton at the election
here Tuesday.
Vote By Precincts
Unofficial returns of the vote cast
in Bluffton, Beaverdam, Richland
and Orange townships appear on
page 8 of this edition.
Vomen Take Over
Lions Club Meet
It was an impromptu Ladies night
at Tuesday evening’s meeting of the
Lions club—and all unbeknown to
the men who comprise the member
ship of the body.
Wives of club members laid their
plans in secrecy and when the men
gathered for their dinner meeting in
the Walnut Grill, they were much
surprised when the women walxed
in unannounced.
Their surprise was greater, how
ever, when the fairer sex completely
usurped the conduct of the meeting,
taking over the chair and running
the evening’s program to their own
liking.
Transgressions of unwritten rules
laid down by the women drew fines,
and by the close of the meeting a
total of $4.40 had been collected.
For roll call the men were required
to tell about their first date.
Miss Elizabeth Moser, a nurse in
the Rockefeller endowed American
hospital in
speaker in
the dinner.
Peiping, China, was the
the program following
in Peiping when the
She was
Japanese took over the city, and she
said the occupation was effected with
out any resistance on the part of
the Chinese.
Chinese troops and officials with
drew from the city one day, and on
the next the invaders took over con
trol. It is believed the Chinese did
not want fighting in the city because
many highly revered and oeautiful
Chinese shrines
among them the
Heaven.
MBMNMNIIMNNNMI
465. Vote in the three was 11 votes, according to unofficial
returns Wednesday morning. The
total vote was dry 86, wet 73.
are located there,
famous Temple of
nothing
to the
They en-
Time means
Chinese, Miss Moyer said,
joy long meals, serving as many as
30 courses at one sitting. Guests
are expected to at least taste each
dish, even tho some include unap
petizing offerings as bird’s nest soup
and eggs that are. highly aged.
Philosophy of the Chinese in areas
conquered by Japan appears to be
that eventually they will absorb the
invaders, and they consequently go
about their accustomed tasks in un
concerned manner.
Prince Of Peace
Contest Winners
Five winners in Prince of Peace
declamation contests held in Bluffton
churches over the week end are eli
gible to participate in county con
tests to be held the latter part of
this month or early in December.
Winner of first place in each of
the contests held in five Bluffton
churches will be eligible for the
county contest. Winner of second
place will be alternate, being eligible
for the county contest in event the
principal is unable to compete.
First and second rankings in con
tests at the various churches here
are as follows:
Reformed—Louise Dunifon, Wanda
Diller.
First Mennonite—Herbert Klassen,
George Myers.
Methodist—Jeanne Baumgartner,
Betty Steinman.
Presbyterian Alberta Sumney,
Harriet Biome.
Defenseless Mennonite—Doris Gar
matter, Phyllis Steiner.
The question of prohibition was
not an issue in the rural precincts
of Richland township, Tuesday, where
no vote was taken on the measure.
BAR HUNTERS
to Hunting” Signs More Num
erous Than Ever Before as
Season Opens
’armers Object to Early Open
ing of Season Because of
Standing Corn
the
the
Bluffton hunters who took to
field Wednesday afternoon for
opening of the rabbit and pheasant
season found more land closed to
them than ever before in the history
of this area.
Game protective associations have
been set up in many localities, par
ticularly in Hancock
other districts hosts
farmers have posted
signs on their lands.
county, and in
of independent
“No Hunting”
In mostcases, however, local hunt
ers from this district have found
permission may be obtained to hunt
on posted land, providing they are
able to establish their residence
far as owners are concerned.
Another factor has been receipt
of word that a large area to the
north, particularly in Wood county,
will be closed to hunters. As a re
sult, a large influx of hunters from
the north was expected in this area.
tie vote.
so
Hunting Barred
Game protective associations, one
of which was set up in Orange town
ship, in the vicinity of Jenera require
that written permission be obtained
to hunt on the land of any farmer
who has joined the organization and
posted his land.
Most farmers are barring promis
cuous hunting on their lands this
'fall because the season has opened a
week early, and in most cases large
fields of corn and in some instances
soy beans are still out and farmers
do not want hunters tramping thru
them.
Plentiful
rabbits are believed
this year, and re
on the opening day
most
number
Game
Pheasants and
to be numerous
ports of results
were highly satisfactory in
cases, despite the great
afield.
rabbits
allowed
Hunting of pheasants and
during November will be
(Continued on page 8)
Thirty-six Enroll
In First Aid Course
Thirty-six enrolled for the Red
Cross First Aid school, sponsored by
Bluffton Red Cross chapter, at the
initial session in the High school
building Monday night.
Two representatives from the Allen
County Red Cross chapter were here
to organize the class, and direct the
work of the group. Among those
attending were school bus drivers,
school teachers, nurses and college
students.
Meetings will be held each Monday
night for a 10-weeks period, and
first-aid certificates will be presented
to all those satisfactorily complet
ing the course.
Giving instruction in the course
are Clair Copp and Victor Gonella
of Lima. Enrollment in the course
is still open.
Since Armistice day has been de
signated as a legal holiday, there
will be no mail delivery on Bluffton
city or rural routes, Saturday. The
Citizens National bank here will also
be closed for the day. Other busi
ness will continue as usual.
Clair Fett, commander of the
Bluffton post of the American Legion
stated the first of the week that his
PROPOSED $80,000 BOND
ELECTION
Notes and Cossip
Congratulations
Congratulations to W. A. Howe,
elected mayor of Bluffton, Tuesday.
Howe, former president of the coun
cil has filled the mayor’s chair for
the past year following the resigna
tion of J. Norman King. Also
gratulations to A. D. Wells
proved himself a good loser.
Sewer Issue Polling 62 Per Cent of Vote Fails
to Reach 65 Per Cent Required
to Carry Measure
con
who
Lucky Lee
Lady Luck still smiles on Lee
Coon who was returned for a third
term as town marshal. Lee’s luck
is nothing short of phenomenal when
it comes to elections. Four years
ago he was elected marshal winning
the place by the flip of a coin after
a
Hats Off to Auxiliary
Those women of the Hospital Aux
iliary who braved overcast skies and
a heavy rain Tuesday to sell tags
for Community hospital benefit have
the tidy sum of $81.06 to show for
their efforts.
Those Collect: Students
The old and ever debated question
of college students voting came up
again Tuesday when a number of
students were challenged at the high
school library, voting place of Pre
cinct B. There was something of a
flurry among the collegians until it
was finally ironed out as to which
ones qualified as voters under the
statute.
Combs from Dayton
Hyde
President Roosevelt votes in
(Continued on page 8)
ones-Herr Wedding
At Home Of Minister
the officiating
Kliewer of the
church took
Miss Margaret
Mr. and Mrs.
William Herr,
At the home of
minister, Rev. P. A.
Ebenezer Mennonite
place the wedding of
Jones, daughter of
Clarence Jones and
son of Mr. and Mrs. D. J. Herr, both
of this place.
The wedding vows were received
by Rev. Kliewer in a single ring
ceremony last Wednesday night. The
couple was unattended,
wore for the occasion a
gown of street length.
The bride
nile green
the couple
Following the ceremony
left for a short trip to Canada, re
turning the last of the week. They
are now residing on the Herr farm
near Bluffton. The groom is en
gaged in farming and the bride was
formerly employed at the Triplett
plant here.
Turkey Dinner For
Men's Brotherhood
No Mail Delivery On Saturday,
Armistice Day Bank To Close
Men’s Brotherhood of the First
Mennonite church will .enjoy their
annual turkey dinner at the church
dining room Thursday night at 6:30
o’clock. Rev. Neal Dow Newlin of
Lima will be the principal speaker
of the evening. Election of officers
for the coming year will also be held
following the dinner.
organization would request that the
waterworks whistle be
a. m. the hour which
official close of the
twenty-one years ago.
blown at 11
marked the
World war
An Armistice day program will be
held at the high school on Friday
afternoon at 1 o'clock when Atty. L.
Donifen of Marion will speak on the
subject “A Challenge for Good Citi
zenship”.
A Good Place to Live and a
Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 28
Bluffton’s proposed $80,00 bond is
sue for construction of a municipal
sewer system was defeated at Tues
day’s election. The measure received
a total of 1.8 per cent of the total
vote cast, falling short by approxi
mately 3 per cent of receiving the
required 65 per cent of minimum.
Vote in the three precincts:
A
Total
627
387
191
142
Yes..............190
No .............. 147
This is the fifth instance during the
past thirteen years that the proposal
for a municipal sewer system has been
defeated here. The proposal this
year, for a complete system, was plac
ed before the voters by order of the
town council after previous proposals
for intercepting sewers had been de
feated.
State Issues Here Hard Hit
Bluffton voters also turned thumbs
down on four state issues which were
on the ballot Tuesday. Similar large
majorities were rolled up against the
measures in Richland township and
Beaverdam.
On the proposed Bigelow old age
pension plan total vote in Bluffton,
Beaverdam and the Richland township
precincts stood 224 in favor to 1,262
against. The proposed Bigelow meas
ure to change initiative procedure, al
so the civil service and state board of
education measure lost by large ma
jorities.
Wedding Ceremony
Held At Lafayette
Miss Edith Amstutz, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Kempf was
quietly married to Willis Staley, son
of J. P. Staley of near Lafayette,
Saturday evening, Oct. 28, at 8
o’clock at the home of the officiating
minister, Rev. J. L. Guthrie of near
Lafayette.
The couple was attended by Mr.
and Mrs. Harold Grant. Mrs. Grant
was a former classmate and inti
mate friend of the bride. Mr. Grant
is a cousin of thei
bridegroom.
gowned in comet
accessories.
in navy blue
The bride was
blue with black i
Grant was attired
black accessories.
Mrs.
with
will
The newly married couple
make their home for the present
with the groom’s parents.
Bluffton Couple
Weds In Toledo
Miss Betty Jene Carr and Ray E.
Luginbuhl were united in marriage
Saturday afternoon at the home of
Rev. C. L. Cohagen of Toledo.
The couple was attended by the
bride’s sister Mary Lou Carr, and
the groom’s brother, Robert Lugin
buhl.
For the occasion the bride was at
tired in a dress of teal blue with
black accessories. She wore a cor
sage of red roses and white baby
chrysanthemums. Her
wore a dress of luggage tan, with a
corsage of red roses and baby chrys
anthemums. The groom and his at
tendant wore green suits with mu
tineers of red roses.
attendant
Mrs. Luginbuhl is the daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Harold Carr of Union
township. She is a graduate of Mt.
Cory high school in the class of
1936 and is employed as saleslady
at the Lape Co. in Bluffton.
Mr. Luginbuhl is the son of Mr,
and Mrs. Gideon Luginbuhl of this
place. He is a graduate of Bluff
ton high school in the class of 1935
and of International Business college,
Ft. Wayne. He is employed in the
office of the Ohio Oil company in
Findlay.
Friends and relatives of the bride
and groom were entertained at a re
ception Saturday evening in the home
of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs.
Harold Carr.
The bride and groom will be at
home in the Fett apartments.
When a man is born his work is
born with him.