The Bluffton news. [volume], October 02, 1941, Image 1

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BLUFFTON NEWS
The Advertising Medium for
Bluffton Trade Territory
VOLUME NO. LXVI
NEW FEDERAL TAX
GOES INTO EFFECT
HERE WEDNESDAY
Levy Will Not Appear On
Bluffton Telephone Bills
Until Next Month
Scores of Items Used Every
Day Will Feel Effect of
Added Costs
With October billings mailed out
this Wednesday morning, Bluffton
telephone subscribers have received
their last tax free monthly bills for
the service. Altho the new federal
taxes go into effect on October 1, the
levy will not apply to bills rendered
before October 6, it was announced
the first of the week by Eli Deppler,
manager of the Bluffton Telephone
Co.
Starting Nov. 1, all local tele
phone bills will carry an excise tax
levy of six per cent and on long dis
tance calls the tax will average ap
proximately 10 per cent.
On scores of manufactured items,
however, hidden excise taxes will
boost the cost for Bluffton residents
starting this Wednesday. In addition
to the manufactured items used by
the consumer will be levies on amuse
ment admissions, club dues, transpor
tation and other necessities and luxur
ies of various kinds.
Most of the taxes are payable by
the manufacturer, but the cost will be
passed on to the ultimate consumer.
Automobiles
On automobiles, the excise tax is
increased from 314 to 7 per cent.
This applies only to new cars, but
after next February 1 everyone must
pay a $5 “use” tax if he owns an
automobile.
Approximately 42,000,000 automo
biles in the nation will be affected by
the use tax more than the total num
ber of persons touched by the broad
ened income tax base.
Excise taxes are boasted from 5 Ms
to 10 per cent on radios, electric re
frigerators, phonographic supplies,
optical equipment and musical instru
ments under the new tax law.
Levies on playing cards are hiked
from 11 to 13 cents a pack safe de
posit boxes carry a new tax rate of
20 per cent of the rental charge in
stead of the 11 per cent assessment
formerly made, and the tax on tires
is increased from 2*4 to 5 per cent.
Amusements
Theatres and other admission
charges will bear a tax levy of ap
proximately 10 per cent there will
be a tax of from 2 to 514 cents per
thousand on matches and electric
light bulbs will bear a tax of 5 per
cent.
In addition to levies on your tele
phone bill will be taxes on telegraph,
radio and cable messages of 10 per
cent.
Sporting goods, luggage and rubber
articles also will carry a new 10 per
cent tax load, as will also business
and store machines and commercial
washing machines.
Transportation
The transportation tax will net five
per cent on passenger tickets by rail,
motor vehicle, water and air. Ex
emptions are made for fares not ex
ceeding 35 cents.
In addition to lower income tax ex
amptions and higher rates, the excise
tax is on scores of everyday items
such as listed above. Total yield of
the new revenue bill is expected to be
$3,553,400,000 for the federal national
defense coffers.
Two Hurt In Falls
Mrs. Anna Koontz of Orange
township was painfully injured when
she fell down the stairs in the Citi
zens Bank building last Wednesday
night. She received a scalp wound
and severe bruises. She was taken
to the hospital and later removed to
her home.
Mrs. Warner Newland was badly
bruised and shaken in an accident
at her home on West Elm street,
Friday night. She fell from the
first floor to the basement below,
falling thru a hole which had been
cut in the floor for a hot air regis
ter.
EARLY THANKSGIVING RECESS
With Thanksgiving Day in Ohio
definitely scheduled for November
20 as requested by Pres. Roosevelt
the Bluffton public schools will
observe a holiday on this date in
stead of November 27. The early
date was announced this week by
Gov. John W. Bricker. Bluffton
college will also observe the early
date for Thanksgiving.
Many Graduates of Outstanding
Music Colleges in Famous
Music Unit
Visiting at Home of Wade
Finton on Cherry Street on
Short Furlough
Very few except graduates of first
rank musical colleges, or those with
equivalent training, are accepted in
to membership in the crack United
States army band, according to Tech.
Sgt. Chas. D. Hershey of Washing
ton, D. C., the band’s xylophone solo
ist who with his family is visiting
this week at the home of his cousin,
Wade Finton of Cherry street.
Sergeant Hershey is on a short fur
lough.
The band, consisting of 86 mem
bers, is one of the largest in the
country. It is an outgrowth of the
General Pershing band that accom
panied the American general home
from the World War. The band to
day is dedicated to the General.
Within the past week the band
played for the General when he
stopped in at the Walter Reed hos
pital in Washington, D. C., for a
routine check-up.
In Band 12 Years
Sergeant Hershey has been in the
band for 12 years and in the United
States army for a total of 17 years.
His son Karl is also in the band and
specializes on the same instruments
as his father, namely the xylophone
and percussion.
Every member- of the band is a
soldier and is admitted from the
army ranks to the band only after
rigid tests and tryout for musician
ship. Regular advancement in rank
is given to the musicians as follows:
Private one, Private six, Staff Ser
geant, Technical Sergeant and Mas
ter Sergeant.
Apprentice Training
Many of the directors of regiment
al and post bands received their ap
prentice training in the bigger army
band, Sgt. Hershey pointed out. A
music school is maintained by the
army at the War college in Wash
ington in which directors for regi
mental and post military bands may
receive their training. Head of the
school is Capt. Thomas F. Darcy, Jr.,
who is also director of the army
band.
Although Capt. Darcy prefers mu
sicians with military band experience
in recruiting his personnel, he does
not insist on this background as
much as on excellent musicianship.
Many of the members of the band
are graduates of some of the leading
musical colleges in America.
Single Men
Single men are preferred for ad
mission to the band since they are
required to stay in the barracks at
Washington. However, if they
choose to get married after admis
sion to the band they may do so
with the permission of their super
ior officers. Although several mar
ried members of the band are living
in special quarters provided at the
barracks most of them live in pri
vate dwellings.
The band broadcasts regularly and
plays frequently at important social
functions and diplomatic activities
at the nation’s capital. A feature
of the summer months is the weekly
band concert given at the Capitol
building. The weekly broadcast is
from the band auditorium at the
Army War college.
Few Trips
Excellent Musicianship In Army Band
Says Xylophone (Soloist Visiting Here
In recent years the band has been
in demand so much at Washington
functions that there have been few
extended trips of any kind. The
band played at the New York
World’s fair throughout the summer
months but with that exception sel
dom leaves Washington.
Members of the band engage in no
other military activity and devote
all of their time to rehearsals and
concerts.
Homecoming To Be
Observed By Church
Celebrating the 25th anniversary
of erecting the church building, an
all day homecoming celebration will
be observed at the Methodist church
Sunday, October 12.
Former ministers have been invit
ed to attend the event and it is ex
pected that church dignitaries will
also be on hand for the celebration.
Dr. R. O. McClure, district super
intendent from Lima, will preach at
the morning services. Former past
ors will talk at the afternoon meet
ing. The evening meeting will con
sist of union services in which other
churches in the community will join
i in the celebration.
Accident Victim In
Critical Condition
Following a freak accident in
which she fell out of their car while
travelling east on the Lincoln high
way, five miles east of Bluffton near
the Henry Hilty farm, Mrs. Vera
Houser, Kenilworth, Ill., is in the
Bluffton hospital in a critical condi
tion suffering from a fractured skull.
The mishap took place Saturday
morning at 9:00 o’clock.
The accident occurred when the
rear tire blew out causing the car
to swerve. As the car swerved the
door flew open and Mrs. Houser
struck the pavement with consider
able force. Her husband, who was
driving the car, was not injured.
Although conscious at the time she
was brought to the Bluffton hospital
in the Basinger ambulance she be
came unconscious Saturday noon and
has since remained in that condi
tion.
Former Orange Twp.
Resident Succumbs
Elmer Elwood, 73, former Orange
township resident, died at his home
in Ada, Tuesday following an illness
of several months. He was a bro
ther of Mrs. Maude Curry of Bluff
ton.
Funeral services will be held in
Ada Thursday afternoon at the Clum
Tabernacle with Rev. Carl Clum of
ficiating. Interment will be in Has
san cemetery.
Besides his sister of this place he
is survived by his widow, four sons
Wilbur, Homer, Elza and Wilford,
all of Ada two daughters Mrs.
Lucy Swick of Dayton and Mrs.
Winifred Smith of Findlay and a
sister Mrs. Mary Fite of Lima.
Kohli Transferred
To California Camp
Pvt. Robert E. Kohli, son of Mrs.
Eva Kohli, of West Elm street, has
been transferred from Camp Grant,
Ill., to Moffett Field, Calif., accord
ing to an announcement this week
by the commanding general at Camp
Grant.
Pvt. Kohli completed a 13-week
basic training course at the Camp
Grant Medical Replacement Training
Center before being assigned to the
California post where he and 30
other trainees will form a medical
detachment.
Arnold F. Bessire
Dies In Delaware
Arnold F. Bessire, 82, former
Beaverdam resident, died at 10 a. m.
Monday at Delaware, Ohio, where he
had resided for the last 32 years.
Cause of the death was complica
tions of diseases.
Survivors include three sons, Aus
tin L. Bessire, of Lima Eugene L.
Bessire, of Bellefontaine and Fred
A. Bessire, of Los Angeles and a
daughter, Mrs. A. D. Allgier, of
Lima.
The body was taken to Lima Mon
day' where funeral services were held
Wednesday morning followed by in
terment at that place.
Funeral Rites For
Mary Reichenbach
Funeral services were held Mon
day in the St. John Mennonite
church near Pandora for Mrs. Mary
Reichenbach, 88, widow of Alfred
Reichenbach, who died early Satur
day morning at her home three miles
east of Columbus Grove.
Survivors are two daughters, Ella,
at home, and Mrs. Mary Silvester,
of Columbus Grove two sons, Ed
ward, at home, and John, of Colum
bus Grove, and a sister, Mrs. Kath
erine Basinger.
Rev. P. J. Boehr, pastor of the St.
John church, officiated at the fun
eral rites. Burial was in the church
cemetery.
Communion Sunday
To Be Observed Here
“World Wide Communion Sunday”
will be observed by several Bluffton
churches at special services to be
held Sunday morning. Churches
will include the Methodist, Presby
terian, St. John’s Reformed and the
First Mennonite.
BROTHERHOOD MEETING
A father and son banquet will be
sponsored by the brotherhood or
ganization of the First Mennonite
church in the basement Friday night
at 6:30 o’clock. Speaker for the
meeting will be Mr. E. W. Baum
gartner of Berne, Ind.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, OCT.
HALF OF APPLE
CROP DESTROYED
BY WIHD STORM
Loss Will Run Into Thousands
Of Dollars as Bumper Crop
Prospects Fade
Growers Working to Salvage
Part of Loss by Making
Cider and Apple Butter
Farmers thuout the Bluffton dis
trict are attempting to salvage this
week what remains of a bumper apple
crop ruined byr a gale which swept
thru Northwestern Ohio last Thurs
day playing havoc with orchards. The
w’ind at times gained a velocity esti
mated at 60 miles an hour.
Loss to apple growers will run into
thousands of dollars as more than
half of the crop is estimated to have
been blown off the trees. Being bruis
ed, these apples are unfit for sale in
regular commercial channels and are
being worked up this week into by
products, principally cider and apple
butter.
With most of the other crops har
vested the storm seemed to concen
trate its fury- on the apple trees
where by' far the biggest losses were
sustained.
The wind storm hit the orchards at
a crucial moment just before harvest
with the trees bearing down under
the weight of their heavy loads.
Apple Loes Greatest
Although the apple losses were by
far the greatest there were minor
losses reported to both .the Richland
Township Farmers Mutual Insurance
Association and the Mennonite Mu
tual Aid Society with totals of $600
and $100 reported respectively. Loss
es consited largely of damage to roofs
of farm buildings.
The Bluffton telephone and muni
cipal 'light plants reported numer
ous poles broken and wire down. The
damage, however, was not considered
excessive and the repairs were made
without outside help.
Not Comp ete Loss
The thousands of bushels of apples
blown to the ground in the Thursday’
storm were not considered a complete
loss. Farmers are able to work them
up into cider and apple butter. As a
consequence of the excessive amount
of apples classified as “dropped” ap
ples the cider mills running three
days this week in contrast to the nor
mal operation of one day weekly at
this time of the season.
Another unusual phenomenon ex
hibited following the storm was the
fact that most of the leaves on the
apple trees turned brow’n. This was
probably due to the fact that the
storm blew all of the moisture out of
(Continued on page 8)
Bogart-A ugsburger
Nuptials At Grove
Wedding of Harley Augsburger,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Augs
burger, west of town, to Miss Es
tella Bogart, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. O. R. Bogart, of Columbus
Grove, took place at the United
Brethren church in Columbus Grove
Sunday afternoon at 2:30 o’clock.
Officiating at the service w-as the
Rev. Frank Hamblen who performed
the double ring ceremony before the
chancel adorned w-ith ferns and fall
flowers.
Joseph Gillespie sang preceding
the ceremony, his numbers being “I
Love You Truly” and “O Promise
Me”. Mrs. Gillespie played the ac
companiment.
The bride who was given in mar
riage by her father, w-ore a dress of
burgundy velvet trimmed with Irish
lace and pearl buttons, and a match
ing velvet hat with shoulder length
veil. She wore a gold bracelet w-orn
by her mother on her wedding day,
and a corsage of starlight roses and
stephanotis.
The matron of honor, Mrs. Waldo
Dilsaver, of Lima, sister of the bride,
wore a dress of peacock velvet w-ith
lace trim, and hat of the same shade
of blue. Her flowrers w-ere a corsage
of gold mums, and she wore a gold
bracelet, the gift of the bride.
Wade Augsburger, of Bluffton,
served as his brother’s best man.
For her daughter’s wedding, Mrs.
Bogart wore a black crepe dress,
and the bridegroom’s mother was
dressed in navy blue. Their flowers
were corsages of roses. A recep
tion in the home of the bride’s par
ents followed after w-hich the couple
left for a short trip.
Mrs. Augsburger is employed at
the Triplett Electrical Instrument
Co. and Mr. Augsburger is working
at the present time in Lima. The
couple will reside for the present
with the groom’s parents.
2, 1941
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Marquart,
Pioneer Residents, Recall
Early Days in Log House
Observance of Sixtieth Anni
versary to be at Orange
Center Sunday
Sixty years of wedded life, all of
which have been spent at the same
location, will be celebrated by Mr.
and Mrs. Phillip Marquart, residing
three and one half miles east of
tow-n in Orange township, on the an
niversary of their marriage next
Monday. Mr. Marquart is 84 and
Mrs. Marquart is 79 years of age.
Although the anniversary date
falls on Monday, observance of the
occasion will be next Sunday. In
celebration of the anniversary a
basket dinner, to which all of the
relatives are invited, will be held at
Orange Center, five miles southeast
of Bluffton, on Sunday over the noon
hour. Open house will be held at
the Center on Sunday afternoon dur
ing which time the couple will re
ceive congratulations from their
many friends.
The couple was married on Octob
er 6, 1881 at the Findlay Lutheran
church and started housekeeping jn
the farm on which they still reside
in Orange township. Their home,
however, was a log house which was
torn dow-n 14 years later to make
way for the frame residence which
the aged couple now occupy. Mrs.
Marquart before her marriage was
Miss Elizabeth Redick, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Adam Redick of near
Jenera.
12 Children
All of their 12 children were born
at this location with 10 children now
living. These are: Milton of Orange
township Charles, living north of
Jenera William, Jenera John,
Orange township Edward, Richland
township Mrs. Ed Kempf, living on
Route 103 Mrs. Brice Main, Orange
township Phillip, Jr., Richland town
ship Mrs. Archie Hartman, Orange
township, and Mrs. Charles Gossman,
Orange township.
Two daughters died in 1919.
These were: Mrs. Lizzie Klingler
of Ada, and Mrs. Victoria Bame of
Dola. Mr. Marquart has tw’o
brothers living, William of Orange
township and Edward of Beaverdam.
Mrs. Marquart has three brothers
living, John and Ben Redick of
Jenera and Noah Redick of Toledo.
Although hampered somewhat by
advancing years both Mr. and Mrs.
Marquart are in good health. Mr.
Marquart still splits wood and mows
weeds but finds it difficult to con
tinue any length of time. Mrs.
Marquart still does her cooking and
housework but beyond that does
little more.
Discards Glasses
Mrs. Marquart has excellent eye
sight and was able to discard her
glasses more than ten years ago.
Her reading is largely confined to a
church paper, the Bible and the
Bluffton News. Mr. Marquart has
experienced difficulty in seeing as
well as formerly and consequently
does little reading.
MR. AND MRS PHILLIP MARQUART
Orange Township Couple To Mark
60 Years Of Wedded Life Monday
In addition to farming, Mr. Mar
quart was engaged in the carpenter
trade for about 30 years and in that
period of time erected 72 buildings
consisting principally of houses and
barns. Most of the construction took
place in Orange township, Mr.
Marquart stated.
Recalls Early Bluffton
Of his 84 years of life, Mr. Mar
quart has lived in Orange township
for a period of 71 years. He well
recalls when Bluffton w-as known as
Shannon and Ada was called Johns
(Continued on page 8)
Gerdemann-Zuercher
Wedding Saturday
Against a background of ferns
and fall flowers Miss Ruth Gerde
mann, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.
C. Gerdemann, of Beaverdam, be
came the bride of Jerome Zuercher,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Zuerch
er of Mound street in a wedding sol
emnized at the St. Marys Catholic
church Saturday morning at 9:00
o’clock.
The nuptial mass was celebrated
by the pastor, the Rev. Nicholas
Bouschere. The Rev. Robert Maher,
chaplain of St. Vincent hospital, To
ledo, former pastor of the parish
was present in the sanctuary.
Preceding the ceremony a medley
of organ selections was given by
Miss Rita Hankish. Miss Doris
Gerdemann, sister of the bride, sang
“On This Day, O Beautiful Mother”,
at the conclusion of the mass, and
the offertory selection by Miss Hank
ish was Gounod’s “Ave Maria”.
The bride was lovely in a gown
of white slipper satin, trimmed with
Alencon lace. The same lace was
used to edge her long veil of illu
sion held with a coronet of seed
pearls, and she carried a show-er of
bride’s roses. For ornament she
wore a strand of pearls, the gift of
the bridegroom.
The maid of honor, Miss Evelyn
Gerdemann, and the bridesmaid, Miss
Mary Anna Gerdemann, both of
Lima, sisters of the bride, w’ere
dressed in gow-ns of aqua and pale
pink brocaded satin, respectively,
made w-ith shirred bodice, sweet
heart neckline and full skirts. They
wore matching tiaras, and carried
bouquets of Talisman roses and blue
delphinium. Each wore a gold
locket, the bride’s gift.
Romanus Zuercher acted as his
brother’s best man and ushers were
Richard Nusbaum, of Pandora, and
Henry Fell, of Findlay. For her
daughter’s wedding, Mrs. Gerde
mann wore a green dress w-ith black
accessories, and the bridegroom’s
mother was attired in a navy blue
dress. Their flowers were corsages
of gardenias.
Following the mass, a dinner was
served at the Walnut Grill in Bluff
ton for the w-edding party and imme
diate families, and a reception held
for the couple in the evening in the
Gerdemann home.
The couple left for a short trip
and will be at home on Route 2,
Bluffton. The bride chose a soldier
blue ensemble for traveling.
Births
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hochstettler
are the parents of a son born at
Bluffton hospital, Saturday.
A daughter was born to Mr. and
Mrs. Dale Stewart of Ottawa at
Bluffton hospital, Saturday.
Word has been received here of
the birth of a son to Mr. and Mrs.
Elmer Amstutz of Toledo. Mr. Am
stutz is the son of Mr. and Mrs.
Moses Amstutz of Grove street.
Announcement has been made of
the birth of a son, James Robert, to
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Kohli of Oak
Harbor at the hospital at Port Clin
ton, Saturday.
Born to Mr. and Mrs. Paul Leahy
of Lima a son, Michael David, Sun
day. Mrs. Leahy was the former
Miss Katherine Klay, a niece of
George Klay of this place. She was
formerly employed at the Triplett
Electrical Instrument Co.
SCOUT CONFERENCE
Bluffton Boy Scout Troop No. 56
will send representatives to the
Junior leader conference to be held
at Ada on November 1, it was an
nounced this week by Karl Gable,
scoutmaster.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live and a
Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 23
FIRE DAMAGE IN
TOWN LOW LOSS
IN COUNTRY HEAVY
SIulTton Fire Department Gives
Out Figures for Fire Pre
vention Week
Total of Fire Losses in Town
This Year $70 Losses in
Country $26,000
Local preparation for observance
of national fire prevention week
October 5 to 11 brought the an
nouncement that Bluffton’s fire loss
for the first nine months of 1941 has
been $70 in five blazes.
Last year at the same time, Bluff
ton firemen had answered nine
alarms w’ithin the village limits, but
the aggregate loss was only $50.
For the same period in 1939, there
was a loss of $1,500 in five fires.
Six runs have been made to rural
areas by the Bluffton fire depart
ment so far this year, w-ith a total
damage of $26,000 reported by
Clarence Stonehill, secretary of the
department.
Equipment Improved
Bluffton’s fire fighting equipment
has been improved during the last
year, with the purchase of 500 feet
of regulation size hose and 150’feet
of smaller hose three fog nozzles,
and one dozen fire bombs.
Observance of fire prevention week
also has served to focus renewed
attention on the need of additional
equipment that will be made avail
able if voters approve a $8,000 bond
levy that will be on the ballot in the
November election.
Funds sought in the bond issue
are for the purchase of a new fire
truck with pumper and necessary
additional equipment. Unless a new
pumper is added to the Bluffton de
partment there is a likely prospect
that local fire insurance rates will
be hiked, officials of the department
have warned.
Efficient Force
Bluffton’s efficient fire department
is headed by Fire Chief Guy Corson,
with a roster of eight trained men
serving as firemen.
On the force are Clarence Stone
hill, secretary H. Augsburger, L.
Niswander, Harold Stonehill, Fred
Martin, Isaac Brobeck, Charles
Young and Edwin Badertscher.
Fire prevention w-eek, observance
of w-hich opens next Sunday, affords
an opportunity for local residents to
inspect their homes in an effort to
eliminate fire hazards, Chief Corson
said.
Inspection Urged
One of the principal causes of
fires in homes is defective chimneys.
Flue inspections are recommended in
the early fall to eliminate danger
from that source.
Care also should be taken that
furnaces are not in contact with, or
iii close proximity to combustible
materials. A clearance of 15 inches
between the top of the chimney and
the ceiling is advisable.
Checking electrical wiring and ex
tension cords also has been suggest
ed. Furnaces and flues should be
checked by an expert to make cer
tain there are no fire hazards from
those sources before heating plants
are put into operation for the
winter.
Car Skids On Main
St. Woman Injured
Mrs. Louella Davidson, 55, of
Bettsville, received painful injuries
to her right shoulder when her auto
skidded from the pavement and
crashed broadside into a tree on the
front lawn of the Cleon Triplett res
idence on South Main street, Sun
day afternoon.
Mrs. Davidson was driving alone,
southbound, at the time of the ac
cident and the pavement was wet
from a passing shower.
The injured woman w-as taken to
the Bluffton hospital where she w-as
given first aid treatment and re
leased several hours later.
No School Thursday
Bluffton high and grade schools
will be closed all day Thursday to
give pupils an opportunity to attend
the Putnam county fair at Ottawa.
The public library at the high school
will also be closed.
Real Estate Deals
Russell Amstutz of Riley street
has purchased the Aaron Diefendei
fer property at East College avenue
and Mound street