The Bluffton news. [volume], January 11, 1940, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXTV
1939 TOP YEAR
AT POSTOFFICE
Bluffton's Postal Receipts of
$25,190 Attain New High
Mark Here
Volume of Foreign Mail Shows
Drop Due to European
War Condition
Bluffton’s post office receipts for
‘the ncalendar year 1939 reached an
aggregate of $25,987.69, the highest
in history, Postmaster Ed R. Reichen
bach announced this week.
The new record is approximately
$800 more than in 1938 when a mark
of $25,190.12 was set. Postmaster
Reichenbach said there has been a
gain in local receipts every year since
1934.
Three of the four quarters of the
past calander year showed marked in
creases over corresponding quarters
in 1938. Gains were in the first three
quarters, with a slight slump coming
in the last. This was attributed large
ly to a decrease in foreign mailings,
caused by the European war, it wras
pointed out.
Post office officials cannot guaran
tee delivery of mail in war zones, and
as a result foreign mailings has shown
a marked drop.
Christmas week cancellations at the
post office were greater in 1939 than
in the preceding year, the report
shows.
During the 1939 holiday week, there
were 39,025 cancellations, as compar
ed with 32,932 in 1938. A new one
day stamp cancellation record was set
on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 1939, when
10,402 pieces went thru the cancella
tion machine.
This year’s holiday parcel post mail
ings differed from those of other seas
ons principally in that there were
more small packages and fewer large
ones, the postmaster said.
Funeral On Monday
Held For Jed Cla*k
•^oJunerftl ^^ces f°r Ted W. Clark,
^oT~Froneer Bluffton resident were
held at his home on North Main
street Monday afternoon with Rev.
J. A. Weed of the Methodist church
officiating. Interment was made in
Maple Grove cemetery.
Mr. Clark died at his home here
Saturday following an eight weeks
illness. He had been in failing
health for some time.
For many years he operated a
dray and transfer line here and
later engaged in the buying of cream
and produce.
Surviving are one daughter Mrs.
Stella Core of Bluffton and two sons
George Clark of Lima and Don Ray
of Bluffton. One brother, John Clark
of Dunkirk also survives.
Over 60 Enroll In
Bible School Here
More than 60 have enrolled in the
Community Leadership Training
school, an interdenominational pro
ject of Bluffton churches for the
training of Sunday school and church
workers, it was announced following
the first session of the school last
Thursday night.
The second of the series of five
meetings will be held this Thursday
night at the high school building.
Enrollment is still open to anyone
desiring to take the course.
Classes in “Bible and Understand
ing Youth” begin at 7:30 “Improv
ing the Adult Class” and “The Child
ren We Teach” at 8:40. The devo
tional period from 8:20 to 8:40 will
be in charge of Rev. Emil Bur
richter.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hutchinson,
Lafayette, Friday, a son, Larry
Wayne.
Mr. and Mrs. Omar Welty, Bulff
ton, Friday, a daughter, Colleen
Jean.
Mr. and Mrs. Eldon Reichenbach,
Columbus Grove, Monday, a daugh
ter Marilyn Jean.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Runser, Ada,
Tuesday, a son Robert Craigg. Mrs.
Runser was formerly Miss Maxine
Patterson of this place.
Mr. and Mrs. Reno Baumgartner,
Vandora, Tuesday, a son Rolland
\xy. Mrs. Baumgartner was form-
V Miss Viola Geiger of this place.
Cord has been received here of
\irth of a daughter to Mr. and
Dale Feikert of Wapakoneta.
eikert will be remembered as
3 Miss Vera Luginbuhl, dau-
Mr. and Mrs. Cal Luginbuhl
f^’uffton.
net
Going To France
M1SS,
Edna Ramseyer, Bluffton
college dean of women who
will leave soon for France where
she will be supervisor of a camp
for Spanish refugee children
near Marseilles. She expects to
sail from New York about
January 25 under auspices of the
Friends’ Service committee.
HOSPITAL HOLDS
ANNUAL MEETING
Institution Here Cared for 400
Patients Last Year,
Report Shows
Three Directors Elected for
Three Year Terms at
Meeting Monday
Four hundred patients were admit
ted to the Bluffton Community hospit
al during the past year it was stated
by Miss Helen Maxwell, superintend
ent of the institution who presented
her report at the annual meeting of
the hospitab Monday night. The
meeting held in the high school
cafe*«*fa-
The hospital also had 95 births, 15
deaths and 144 operations during the
past year, according to the superin
tendent’s report. The average num
ber of patients, 13.5 was slightly un
der the number for the preceding year
which was 14.4.
Two new directors elected were Mrs.
Reese Huber and G. R. Bogart, suc
ceeding Dr. S. K. Mosiman and S. S.
Bixel whose terms of service expired.
Menno Schumacher whose term expir
ed was re-elected. All will serve for
three year terms.
In the organization of the board the
following officers were named:
President N. E. Byers vice pres.,
Mrs. R. L. Triplett secretary, Cal.
Balmer treas., Edgar Hauenstein.
Other directors are: Mrs. J. A. War
ren, Mrs. Huber, G. R. Bogart, Gideon
and Menno Schumacher.
Miss Maxwell was named to con
tinue as superintendent of the hospital
and Miss Sylvia Biederman assistant.
Both are registered nurses.
Yodelers Will Be
Here Next Tuesday
Moser Brother’s, world celebrated
yodelers from Switzerland, will pre
sent a concert at 8 p. m. next Tues
day in the Bluffton High school
auditorium.
Last summer the group appeared
at the New Lork World’s fair where
their program was one of the most
popular on the grounds. They have
been here on tw’o previous occasions.
In addition to yodeling offerings,
the group plays selections on the ac
cordion, bass viol, violin, clarinet
and a 10-foot long Alpine horn.
Legion Open House
On Monday Evening
Bluffton Legion post will hold open
house at the post headquarters at
the town hall next Monday night at
8 o’clock. A program for the even
ing is being prepared and the prin
cipal speaker will be James Blissel,
Lima newspaper man. The public
is invited.
Real Estate Deals
The Rebah Purdy Fisher farm
north of town has been purchased
by Mr. and Mrs. Earl Stuart who
now reside on the place.
Miss Mary Diller of Pandora has
purchased the late Christian Weiss
property on West Elm street, which
she expects to occupy after remod
eling.
John Blosser has purchased what
is known as the Erastus Huber farm
south of Bluffton. The place has
been occupied for several years by
John Betz.
BANK DECLARES
STOCK DIVIDEND
Twenty-five Per Cent Increase
In Stock Cash Dividend
$5 Share
Reports to Stockholders Tues
day Night Reflect Growth
Of Institution
Announcement of a twenty-five per
cent stock dividend to shareholders of
the Citizens National bank was made
at the annual stockholders’ meeting,
Tuesday night.
The dividend represents a $15,000
increase in the aggrgate of the out
standing common stock from $60,000
to $75,000.
In addition to the stock distribu
tion, a cash dividend of $5 a share on
the present outstanding common stock
has also been declared.
Liquidate Preferred Stock
Dr. C. Henry Smith, president of
the institution in his annual report to
shareholders stated that the remain
ing $1,000 balance of the original
$3,000 in preferred tock held by the
Federal Reconstruction corporation
has been liquidated. Surplus of the
institution at the close of the past
year stood at $50,000.
Statement of the bank at the close
of the past year showed total foot
ings of assets and liabilities at $1,111,
506.97.
The former board of directors was
re-elected for the coming year. Elect
ed were: C. H. Smith, E. C. Romey,
Hiram Locher, Noah Basinger, L. T.
Greding, Edwing Amstutz and Henry
P. Huber.
Funeral Is Held For
Samuel Fett Monday
Funeral services for Samuel Fett,
76, were held at the Emanuel’s Re
formed church, Monday afternoon
with the pastor, Rev. Emil Burrich
ter officiating. Burial was in the
church cemetery.
Mr. Fett died at the home of his
brother, William Fett north of
Beaverdam, Friday night. Death
came following a stroke of apoplexy
four weeks ago.
A native of Richland township he
had resided in the Bluffton and
Beaverdam communities all his life.
He was born November 4, 1863. He
was a member of Emanuel’s Re
formed church.
His brother at whose home he died
and several nephews and nieces are
the only survivors.
Evangelist At Riley
Creek Baptist Church
Evangelistic meetings are being
held nightly at the Riley Creek Bap
tist church, with Rev. H. S. Gessner,
pastor of the First Baptist church,
of Franklin, Ohio, in charge of the
services. Meetings start at 7:30
p. m.
Rev. Maurice Harlow, pastor of
the Riley Creek church, has invited
the public to attend the services.
Steinman Is Named
School Board Head
Forrest Steinman, Bulffton lumber
dealer, was elected chairman of
the board for the coming year at
the organization meeting Monday
night.
Dr. W. M. Niswander, veterinarian,
was chosen vice president. Other
members of the board are John Tosh,
Elmer Short and Waldo Hofstetter.
Leland Diller is clerk.
Former Local Boy
In Marine Corps
Arthur W. Stager, son of Mr. and
Mrs. Leonard Stager of Rawson,
formerly of Bluffton has enlisted in
the U. S. Harine corps, it was an
nounced the first of the week.
He is now at the marine barracks
at Paris Island, South Carolina,
where he will receive his basic train
ing. Stager was a former student
in Bluffton high school.
Lions Will Hear
Alaskan Explorer
Adventures in the frozen north
will be recounted by an Alaskan ex
plorer at a dinner meeting of the
Bluffton Lions club at 6:15 p. m.
next Tuesday in the Walnut Grill.
The speaker, Dr. Clark M. Garber,
has appeared here previously and is
an interesting speaker.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INT ERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, JANUARY 11, 1940
______________________________________ I
New Public School
Music Teacher Here
Miss Elizabeth Higley of Delaware
was engaged by the Bluffton board
of education at its meeting Monday
night as instructor in public school
music for the remainder of the school
year and took up her duties in the
schools Tuesday.
Miss Higley was hired by the
Bluffton board after Miss Ruth Lam
bertus, former instructor in public
school music asked to be relieved of
her duties for the present school
term.
The new instructor is a graduate
of Ohio Wesleyan university in 1936
and after teaching for two years in
the schools at Ridgeway spent the
past year in graduate work at Ohio
State university, receiving the M. A.
degree.
Miss Higley will divide her time
between the high school and Bluff
ton college, teaching public school
music methods at the latter place.
COLD WAVE IN
12th DAY HERE
Low Mark for Season Set On
Tuesday With Reading of
Eight Below
Weather Is Coldest District has
Had Since Winter of
1935-1936
Oltf-fashioned winter weather with
sub-zero temperatures, ice and snow
has gripped the Bluffton area for the
last eleven days—the longest protract
ed cold spell recorded locally since
the winter of 1935-36.
Temperatures have been around the
zero mark consistently since cold
weather struck the town in the wake
of a near-blizzard a week ago last
Saturday night, however, Wednesday’s
forecasts indicate somewhat milder
winter conditions'* for the remainder
of this week.
Coldest weather of the season was
recorded Tuesday morning when the
mercury dropped to eight below zero.
Previously the low mark for the
winter had been that of last Friday
morning when four below was regis
tered.
Bluffton Woman Will Supervise
Spanish Refugee Camp In France
Freak Cold Wave
Tuesday morning’s sub-zero cold
snap brought a freakish condition with
it. A dense fog that blanketed the
area late Monday night froze on trees
and utility lines and transformed the
district into an ice-jeweled wonder
land early Tuesday.
Several more inches of snow were
added to the white blanket that has
covered the ground for nearly two
weeks when a snow storm struck here
last Sunday afternoon and continued
into the night.
Zero and sub-zero weather here has
been made bearable by the fact that
it is of the “still cold” variety, and
there has been little wind at any time
during the cold snap.
Bluffton Youths
On Radio Saturday
Four Bluffton High school voca
tional agricultural students and
their instructor, Harry F. Barnes,
will appear in a radio broadcast
over WLOK, Lima, at 11:15 a. m.
next Saturday.
Bluffton boys who will take part
are Clyde Sommer, Charles Lora,
James Stratton and James Reichen
bach.
“Future Farmers’ Use Records
and Improve Practices in Their
Farming Program” will be the sub
ject discussed in the broadcast. Ap
pearance of the local group is on a
weekly vocational agricultural pro
gram.
It didn’t scare the least bit—that
stuffed Kansas jack rabbit exhibited
in the News window—when a large
coon hound loping along the street
spied it the other day.
With one bound the dog reached
the window and barked excitedly—
but the rabbit never as much as
flipped an eyelash—which was evi
dently something new in the hound’s
life. After some fifteen minutes of
alternate barking and whining the
dog gave up in disgust.
The rabbit was sent to J. A. Diller
of North Jackson street by a friend
in Canton, Kansas.
Dog’s Barking Didn’t Scare That
Stuffed Rabbit In News Window
Only American in Camp Near
Marseilles for Homeless
Children
Dean of Women at College Here
Will be in Service for
One Year
Miss Edna Ramseyer. dean of wom
en at Bluffton college, will leave this
month for Europe where she will serve
for the next year as supervisor and
dietician of a Friends’ Service camp
for Spanish children near Marseilles,
France.
She will sail from New York City
about January 25, bound for Genoa,
Italy, and will go from that place to
France to take up her duties.
Operation of the camps is being
taken over by the Friends’ Service
committee at the request of the
French government. Heretofore, the
French have been in charge of the
refugee setup, but the stress of war
has made it impossible for them to
continue, it was announced.
Only American in Camp
Serving as director and dietician,
Miss Ramseyer will be the only Amer
ican in the camp. She will sail from
New York with an American doctor
and an American nurse, who will be
associated in the welfare work among
the refugees, but their duties in cov
ering six camps will keep them on the
road most of the time.
Last summer Miss Ramseyer work
ed for the Friends’ service committee
among the share croppers in Mississ
ippi, and her record resulted in the
invitation to go overseas for the ref
ugee assignment.
She has obtained a one-year leave
of absence from Bluffton college, and
plans to return here for the start of
second semester work in 1941.
Miss Ramseyer’s home economics
classes will be taken over by Mrs.
Harry Bogart, formerly Margaret
Lucy Beckwith, class of 1934, who has
teaching experience in that field.
Miss Geraldine Evans, French in
structor at the college, will serve as
dean of women during Miss Ramsey
er’s absence.
Farm Short Course
Meeting Next Monday
Farmers’ Short Course discussion
sessions, open to agriculturalists in
the Bluffton area, will be held for
a 10-weeks period this winter, be
ginning at 7:30 p. m. next Monday
in agricultural rooms at Bluffton
High school.
Harry F. Barnes, vocational agri
cultural teacher at the school, will
be in charge of the program. Topic
for the first meeting is “Farm Out
look for 1940”.
Subjects discussed during the
series of meetings will be selected
by a majority vote of those enroll
ing, Barnes announced that livestock
and farm management likely would
be the topics of most interest.
Enrollment is open to all farmers
and farm boys over school age. No
fee is charged for participation.
Marshall Head Of
Richland Trustees
Walter Marshall was chosen presi
dent of the Richland township trust
ees in the organization of the board
for the coming year. Allen Gris
more was named vice president. D.
C. McCafferty is the third member.
N. W. Basinger is clerk of the board.
In New Locations
Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Steiner are
occupying the Donavin Steiner prop
erty recently completed on Harmon
road near the Bluffton hospital.
Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hanifon
and family have moved from Rawson
to the Alva Morrison property north
of Bluffton.
Couple Married 52
Years On Wednesday
Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Cramer ob
served their fifty-second wedding an
niversary, Wednesday when friends
called during the afternoon at their
home on Vance street to extend con
gratulations.
The couple have lived in this vi
cinity since their marriage. Mr.
Cramer was a teamster for many
years and is well known here.
Veteran To Speak
TOE Denton, ex-British soldier
turned evangelist who will
speak at the Missionary church
Sunday night on the subject
“From Gun Pit to Pulpit”. Den
ton served in France thruoui the
World war. His address Sunday
night will mark the close of two
weeks’ evangelistic services here.
FIREWORKS BAN
UP TO COUNCIL
Decision on Policy for Fourth
Of July is Expected
Here Shortly
Ban Favored by Former Council
But no Enforcing Ordin
ance Passed
Bluffton’s Fourth of July fird
cracker issue, the only business left
unfinished by the outgoing municipal
council, is expected to come up for
consideration at the meeting of the
new council next Monday night.
Future policy of the town with
respect to the use of fireworks as a
part of the Fourth of July celebra
tion is expected to be definitely set
up and announced far in advance of
I the holiday.
Mayor W. ~A. HoweTast year an
nounced that Bluffton’s experiment
with a modified Fourth of July cele
bration, without legislation to en
force provisions of the plan, had
proved unsuccessful and that he
would recommend a change for 1940.
Three Courses Open
As the result of the breakdown of
a plan in which voluntary coopera
tion of the public had been requested,
the mayor said three courses were
open. These plans he said were as
follows:
1—Abolishing the cooperative plan
of a Fourth of July celebration, and
returning to the former unrestricted
basis.
2—Incorporating the restricted
plan tried by the town last year in
an ordinance with adequate pro
visions for enforcement.
3—Abolishing the sale and dis
charge of fireworks.
Favor No Fireworks
The council which retired on Jan.
1 considered Mayor Howe’s sugges
tions last July, and at that time ex
presses itself in favor of stopping
the sale or use of fireworks in the
town.
City Solicitor Francis Durbin was
notified to draft suitable legislation,
but no ordinance was enacted. As
a result, it will be up to the new
council to determine if they are in
favor of the same plan, or if they
wish to follow some other course.
Bluffton’s first experience with a
modified Fourth of July celebration,
requesting the cooperation of the
public, proved a success in 1938.
Cooperative Plan Fails
When the same plan was tried in
1939, however, the celebration had
all the aspects of an old-fashioned
wide-open Fourth of July, and Mayor
Howe announced some change would
be necessary.
Another factor entering into con
sideration of outlawing or rigidly
limiting the sale and use of fire
works here, was an announcement
made last week by the American
Medical association.
Reporting that in 1939, 13 deaths
were due directly to the use of fire
works, the medical association ad
vocated better control of their sale.
Total number of injuries, accord
ing to the association, was 5,560.
Principal causes of death were muti
lations received by men or boys from
home-made explosives, and burns
suffered by little girls, whose
dresses caught fire from sparklers or
fire crackers.
Many states have laws banning
the sale or discharge of fireworks,
among them Pennsylvania and Mich,
in this area.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live and a
Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 37
INSURANCE CO.
HOLDS MEETING
Mennonite Mutual Group Has
$3,111,555 Risks in Force
In Area
Policies Carried by Local Unit
Aggregate 863 Officers
Elected at Meeting
Property insured in the Mennonite
Mutual Aid Society, a locally con
trolled and operated insurance or
ganization specializing in farm risks,
has an aggregate value of $3,111,555,
it was reported Saturday at the an
nual meeting of the group in Pan
dora.
Reports submitted at the session
showed the society has 63 policy
holders, an increase of 23 during the
last year.
Aggregate risks carried by the or
ganization at the close of the year
were $3,111,555. This represents an
increase of more than $50,000 over
the previous year’s total of $3,047,
660.
Two directors whose terms expired
were re-elected to the same posts for
three more years. They were Ezra
E. Bucher and Gid Schumacher.
Jerry Basinger was re-eiected
president of the board of directors
at the organization meeting. Other
officers include: Ezra E, Bucher,
vice president and appraiser D. J.
Basinger, secretary Albert Winkler,
assistant secretary and appraiser
A. S. Hilty, treasurer, and L. G.
Phillips and Gid Schpmacher, ap
praisers.
British World War
Veteran To Speak
“From Gun Pit to Pulpit” will be
the subject of an address by Evan
gelist Joe Denton, British World War
veteran who will speak at the Mis
sionary church Sunday night at 7:30
o’clock.
The address will mark the close of
two weeks of evangelistic services
conducted by Denton at the church
here.
Going to France at the age of six
teen with the first contingent of
British troops in 1914 he served
thruout the four years of the war,
being a warrant officers in the
English forces.
In his talk Sunday night Denton
will discuss war as seen from the
standpoint of the man in the ranks
refuting many illusions as to the
glory of war. An invitation to the
public to attend has been extended
by Rev. A. F. Albro, pastor of the
church.
Hold College Bible
Lectures Feb. 11-16
Annual Bible lectures at Bluffton
college will be held during the week
of February 11 to 16, it was an
nounced the first of the week.
The lectures this year will be de
livered by Dr. Calvert Ellis, pro
fessor of Biblical studies at Juniata
college, Huntington, Pa. Dr. Ellis
received his training at Princeton
Theological seminary, Princeton uni
versity, Yale university and the Uni
versity of Zurich.
A retreat and conference for Men
nonite ministers will be held on Feb
ruary 14 and 15 with Alva J. Mc
Clain, president of Grace Theological
secinary, Winona Lake, Ind., as the
speaker.
With The Sick
Mrs. Harvey Beidler of South
Jackson street is convalescing at
Bluffton hospital following an oper
ation recently.
Ira Slusser who has been an in
valid for several years at his home
on Bentley road is ill with heart
complications.
Mrs. C. B. Kauffman is convalesc
ing at her home on Riley street fol
lowing an operation at the Bluffton
hospital.
H. R. Lugibihl, formerly of Bluff
ton, who has been seriously ill with
heart trouble at his home in Beaver
dam is improving.
Wm. Lightner is recovering from
an illness at his home on South
Lawn avenue.
Mrs. Maude Coon, a patient in the
Bluffton hospital last week' has been
removed to her home on Mound
street.
Peter Matter, of Spring street, is
ill at his home since the latter part
of last week.
Miss Aleene, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Albert Balmer south of town,
has been quite sick with pneumonia^