The Bluffton news. [volume], July 06, 1944, Image 1

About The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current

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BUY
VNITEO
NDS
AMSSUMM
VOLUME NO. LXIX
RECORD CROWD OF
4,000 RODEO FANS
JAM HARMON FIELD
Fourth of July Gathering is
Believed Largest Ever As
sembled Here
Horsemen from Northwest Ohio
and Southern Michigan Vie
in Events
Harmon field was jam-packed
Tuesday night when what is believed
to have been the largest crowd ever
assembled here for any single event
gathered to witness Bluffton’s Fourth
of July rodeo. Attendance at the
rodeo was estimated at 4,000.
Officials of the two sponsoring
organizations, the Bluffton Sports
men’s club and the Bluffton Saddle
Horse club stated that there were
■3,075 paid admissions in addition to
free admissions for contestants,
service men in uniform and pre
children. Besides this there
hundreds viewing the affair
automobiles parked near the
school
were
from
field.
Eclipsing the light of a full moon
which hung high in a cloudless sky
"were the brilliant flood lights of
Harmon field which enhanced the
carnival atmosphere and the
big crowd generously applauded dis
plays of skillful horsemanship until
long after midnight.
Stadium Packed Early
The stadium, packed long before
the opening hour, was the focal point
for the evening’s attractions with
the Rawson band furnishing music
-and the public address system broad
casting announcements of events and
winners.
Overflow crowds of spectators un
able to gain -admission to the stadium
surrounded the football field fenced
off for the events,
blankets and camp
others
Some brought
and camp chairs
standing, sought points
(Continued on page 8)
while
of
Pa., has been appointed
burg,
.structor in Bible at Bluffton college
for the coming year, it was an
nounced the first of the week by
President Lloyd Ramseyer.
The incoming instructor is the son
of Rev. Elwood Shelley prominent in
the Mennonite church. He is a grad
uate of Ursinus college, Collegeville,
Pa., and Hartford Theological sem
inary, Hartford, Conn.
While in the seminary he won a
scholarship for study in Europe but
was prevented from accepting it be
cause of the outbreak of war. Later
he enrolled for graduate study in the
Teachers college of Columbia univers
ity, New York city where he plans
to complete work for a doctor’s de
gree this summer, doing research
study in the Mennonite movement in
eastern Pennsylvania.
He will begin his work here at
the opening of the college in Sep
tember succeeding Rev. A. C. Schultz
who resigned that position last win
ter and recently accepted a
on the faculty of Northern
seminary in^Chicago.
position
Baptist
of An-
Rev. Shelley is a brother
drew Shelley and Miss Margaret
Shelley, both Bluffton college gradu
ates.
Former Teacher Goes
To Stephens College
Orden Smucker, former Bluffton
high school teacher has accepted a
position for the coming year as in
structor in sociology at Stephens col
lege, Columbia, Mo., for the coming
school year.
Smucker who for the past year
was an instructor in the University
school in Columbus, sponsored by
Ohio State university, has resigned
there and will move this summer
with his family to Columbia where
school will open September 15.
Stephens, a junior college for girls,
has become widely noted as an insti
tution following modern concepts in
education. Its campus adjoins that
of the University of Missuri.
While in Columbus last year
Smucker completed work for his
Ph. D. degree with exception of the
thesis at Ohio State university. The
thesis, he expects to complete in con
nection with his teaching duties dur
ing the coming year.
French Front
On
Diehl, formerly of this
somewhere in mnce
Merlin
ac
his
cinity is
cording to word received by
mother, Mrs. G. W. Rower of Lima,
the first of the week.
110 Enroll Here For
Presbyterian Meet
More than 100 registrants are at
tending a Presbyterian conference
for young persons of the Lima and
Toledo Presbyteries, which opened
Monday afternoon on the Bluffton
college campus.
Total registration for the seven
day session, scheduled to close next
Monday morning, is 110. Rev. John
Garber, of Maderia, Ohio, is the
leader.
Youths attending the conference
are quartered in the men’s and wo
mens’ dormitories at the college, and
sessions are held in college buildings
and on the campus.
BIG WHEAT CROP
SETS RECORD FOR
EARLY MARKETING
irst Load of Wheat is Brought
to Elevator Here on
July 1
Tarvest Season Earliest
Years Yield 30 to 35
Bushels Acre
Additional marketing of the
wheat crop the first of this week at
the Bluffton Milling and Farmers
Grain company elevators confirmed
earlier estimates by reliable observ
ers that wheat in this section would
produce from 30 to 35 bushels per
acre,
period of years is about 20 bushels
to the acre.
Average wheat yield over a
The test also, this year is reported
above average, running from 59 to
61 pounds per bushel. Moreover the
moisture content is said to be satis
factory from 12 to 13
V2
Cutting with binders has been in
progress for the past ten days and
nearly all fields have been opened
where combines will be used,
tinuance of fair weather
most of the crop cut by
this week.
are some exceptionally fine
corn in the district while
There
fields of
in other fields the moisture has been
insufficient for
these fields replanting has been ne
cessary.
germination. In
A similar lack of sufficient mois
ture has been noted in some soybean
fields.
Real Estate Deals
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Deitler living
at Gilboa have sold their property at
that place and purchased the Cherry
street property formerly owned by
her grandfather, the late Joe Huber.
The place is
B. R. Schafer
Deitler expect
erty this fall.
Triplett plant
now occupied by the
family. Mn and Mrs.
to move into the prop-
He is employed at the
here.
Leaves For C. O.
Camp In Virginia
James Landes of Lincoln hall, left
camp at Luray, Virginia, it was an
nounced by Allen County Draft
Board No. 3.
11 IE BLUF
It’s Vacation Week For Bluffton
Industry And Business Places
in
one
First of the new wheat crop,
of the best in recent years, is being
sold on the Bluffton markets this
week. The recent heat wave which
sent temperatures over 100 degrees
ripened the stand rapidly and pushed
the harvest season from a week to
ten days ahead of the average year,
keeping many farmers busy in the
fields over the Fourth of July holi
day.
Marketing started here last Satur
day afternoon when Fred Mueller,
residing on the Dixie highway north
of Bluffton brought the first load of
the new crop to the Farmers
tns
in-
early marketings as vet
dealers and farmers said
not recall any previous
new wheat was sold
record for
eran grain
they could
year when
on the first day of July.
here
Confirm Good Yield
new
1938,
John
Jan.
The
Co., of this place.
per cent.
The wheat brought $1.52 a bushel,
which was seven cents above the
price of $1.45 quoted Wednesday
morning.
Oats
Hot Weather Hits
The oats yield will not be as high
as anticipated because of the ex
tremely hot weather and a lack of
sufficient
matured
moisture
said.
moisture. «The crop has
rapidly but needed more
during the process, it is
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE IN
Triplett Plants Closed for Week
And Businesses Curtail
Operations
Some Closed for Entire Week
and Others Open Wednes
day Morning
Bluffton’s war booming industries
and business places paused this week
to get their “second wind” for the
steady grind ahead, in a war-time
vacation collaboration plan that finds
most of those who plan to take time
off during the summer going on va
cation during the same week.
To make it official vacation week
for the town, all plants of the Trip
lett Electrical Instrument company
are closed and eight business places
have curtailed operations, with most
of them shut tight for the week.
Probably never before in history
have so many Bluffton persons been
on vacations at the same time.
All Triplett employes are taking
their vacation at the same time, to
insure uninterrupted war production
for the rest of the year, and local
business men saw the advisability of
following suit during a time when
many war workers would be out of
town.
Other Places Closed
Basinger’s
Her husband, a
A con-
should see
the end of
BLUFFTON, OHIO
MT. VI
HIRED
BLUER
Ralph S. Lanh
Board to
day night meeting.
Investigated
is
Furniture
the three barber
here, Pat’s
not reopen
closed and two of
shops operating
Lewis’, also will
next Monday.
and
it
until
closed
Pine’s
open
shut
Risser’s Sandwich shop has
its doors for the week, and
restaurant, after remaining
through the Fourth, will be
down until Thursday of next
vacation
until Tuesday. All
of course, suspended
the Fourth.
IWW
Mrs.
daughter of Albert and Sarah Bad
ertscher, of Bluffton, died in Findlay
hospital at 9 a. m. Tuesday morning,
following a five-days illness. Death
was attributed to a hemorrhage.
Ellen Mitchell, 23,
Vera
Mrs. Mitchell was graduated from
Bluffton High school in
and before her
the class
marriage
Findlay,
employed
of
to
on
by
J. Mitchell, of
3, 1941, she was
Triplett Electrical Instrument
She was born in Bluffton and was
a member of St. John’s Reformed
church.
In addition to her husband, she is
survived by a son, James, 20 months
old her parents a sister, Erma
Badertscher, Bluffton three brothers,
Lyle Badertscher, Rawson Gene
Badertscher, Bluffton and Maynard
Badertscher, Camp Blanding, Flor
ida.
parents, Mrs. Lydia
Mr. and Mrs. Levi
Bluffton.
Surviving also are the grand
Badertscher and
Hochstettler of
the
at
in
private in
Army MedlcaJ corps stationed
Fitzsimmons General
Denver, arrived here
morning.
hospital
Wednesday
be held at
Funeral services will
St. John’s Reformed church, Friday
afternoon at 2:30 o’clock with Rev.
V. C. Oppermann officiating. Burial
will be in Maple Grove cemetery.
The body is at the Paul Diller
funeral home here where it will re
main until time for the services on
Friday.
Births
The following
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs.
Ada, a daughter,
births at Bluffton
Howard Moser o1
Christine Kay, Iasi
.nd Mrs.
daught
Mrs.
Ada, a
Thursday,
erly Helen
Louie Wagner o1
?r, Eileen Louise
Wagner was form
Nusbaum.
Mr. and Mrs. Edw. Mullett -of
Leipsic, a
Thursday.
son, Edward George,
Mr. and Mrs Ross Borkoskv of
Arlington,
Thursday.
a daughter, Jane Ellen,
Mr. and Mn5. Earl Clayton of
Ada, a daughte ", Saturday.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Haas, of
Bluffton, a son, Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. W. E. Marshall of
Rockport received word of the birth
of a son Paul David, to Lieut, and
Mrs. Robert Brnett in the military
hospital at Ft. Sam Houston, San
Antonio, Texas, Friday. Mrs. Bar
nett will be remembered as formerly
Mary Marshall.
by
recommended.
office
Dr. B. W. Travis closed his
for the week, and several grocery
stores did not open on Monday, giv
ing their employes
Saturday
business,
ations on
from
other
oper-
STS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
f, JULY 6, 1944
The board voted unanimously to
offer Lanham a two year contract at
a salary of $2,700 for the first year
with a possible increase for the sec
ond year. Longsdorf’s annual salary
at the time of his resignation was
$2,800.
Y MANP10’000
HEAD OF
SCHOOLS
Altho Lanham has not formerly
accepted the position, his acceptance I Ten Mlles of Township Roads
will be forthcoming as a routine mat-1 to he Resurfaced in
ter since he was an applicant fori $6000 Program
the position hnd was one of three
interviewed by the board at the
Board
Following the action Friday night,
was announced that board mem
bers had investigated Lanham’s
ord at Mt. Victory where he
well
las Been Head of Schools in
Mt. Victory for Last
Three Years
Ralph S. Lanham, 38, of Mt. Vic
in Hardin coun has been hired
is super endent of the Bluffton
schools^ ..anharn who has been sup
erintenuent of the Mt. Victory
schools for the past three years was
hired by the Bluffton board at a
special meeting on Friday night to
fill the vacancy caused by the resig
nation of Supt. A. J. B. Longsdorf.
ttory
was
The incoming superintendent
native of
moved to
from near
graduated
Virginia with a Bachelor of Aits de
gree, majoring in English and chem-1 and the
istry.
He was also a student in the grad
uate
North
8* University of tar.
This summer’s
18 Years Experience
Lanham has had eighteen years ex
perience in the school room, including
both teaching and administrative
work. For the last 12 years he has
taught in Ohio spending four years
in New Metamoras and five years in
Vincent, both in Washington
before going to Mt. Victory
he has been for three years,
coming to Ohio he taught
North Carol ina schools.
county
where
Before
in the
He is married with two daughters
aged 5 and 9 years and is a member
of the United Brethren church. This
summer he is employed at the Lima
Tank depot.
The new school head will make
rangements to move his family
Bluffton
housing
tained.
this summer as soon
accommodations can be
Board Meets Late
Hiring of the new superintendent I “Td at the Triplett farn
ended the board’s search for a head
of schools here since the resignation
of Supt. Longsdorf early in May.
There were 20 candidates for the
position, 10 of which were selected
by the board for consideration and
investigation. Of
t^ree were under consideration Fri
day night.
this latter number
Vote to extend a contract to Lan
ham, the only candidate voted upon,
was taken after midnight and it was
after 1 a. m. when the board ad
journed.
Missionaries Will
Tell Of Hopi Indians]
Life and customs of the Hopi In-1
dians will be described by Rev. and U
Mrs. J. P. Suderman who will speak
at the
Sunday night at 8:15 o’clock.
Ebenezer Mennonite church
Two From Here Train
At Great Lakes, III.
ON NEWS
House-to-house canvassing has been
completed here except for a few
follow-up calls, and heavier buying
on the part of individuals who al
ready have made purchases will be
necessary to assure that Bluffton’s
goal of $110,000 will be reached.
Sales at the close of Monday
reached the $100,000 mark, but many
residents of the town must increase
TOWNSHIP ROAD
IMPROVEMENT IS
LAUNCHED HERE
Additional Work Is Planned For
Next Fall, Township and
County Share
Virginia, whose parents I highway improvement program spon
the Shenandoah valley I sored jointly by the township trustees
Harrisburg, Pa. He was I and Allen county commissioners,
from the University of I Roads included in the summer
work program now are hard-surfaced
nsist of
layer of
heavy asphalt road
Needed To Put $110 Thousand
I ar L°an Drive Over Top In Bluffton
Nearly $10,000 remains to be
raised if Bluffton’s Fifth War Loan
drive is to go over the top before the
Ml hv| natl'na! closing on July 15, it was
i amea DA I pointed out this week by those in
ngsdoi s of the Bluffton solicitation.
Fricharge
Bluffton Man Was Schoolmate Of
General Carl Spaatz Back In 1910
Cost
of Richland
Resurfacing ten miles
township roads at a cost
mately $6,000 is under
improvements
adding a one-inch seali
stone chips and
...... work represents the
m^^gree from Ohio I largest schedule of improvements to
is a member I Richland township roads since the
onorary schol-1 outbreak of war, and it is a part of
len count road
tely
ive
project that Wi
$175,000.
When work on
started last week
the program locally had been expand
ed beyond the plans announced last
spring.
the township roads
it was learned that
Two New Projects
new projects have been added
announced by the
Two
township
the two
of three
Rockport
one
it was
trustees,
projects is the resurfacing
and one-fourth miles of the
road from the Dixie highway
mile south of town to the Napoleon
road, State Route No. 696.
The larger of
The other addition is resurfacing
ar-1 & two mile stretch of the College
to road from Grove street to the I’ut
as I nam county line.
ob-1 Also in the road program are
planned improvements to two miles
I of the Grismore road from the Peter
Lehman
st to the Pandora
one mile
Pandora road from the
county line south to the
of the
Putnam
Grismore road and one and three
quarters miles of the Yant road,
going north from the Richland
Monroe township tine.
More Work in Prospect
A continuation of the road pro
gram next fall will find the county
commissioners resurfacing another
three and one-half miles of road on
the Richland township portion of the
Allen-Hancock county line, beginning
at the Jackson township line and
Richland township trustees and
rom ffere Train
it Great Lakes, III.
Two
Rev. and Mrs. Suderman who have
been engaged in mission work among
the Indians of the southwest are now| the U. S. Naval .-tiit i
on furlough during which time* he is I Illinois.
acting pastor of the Mennonite! They are Paul S.
church at Berne, Indiana. band of Marie Geisei
_______ I street, and Robert E
Ison of Mr. and Mrs.
I 1 ast Elm street-
Two Bluffton men are receiving!
their initial naval indoctrination at I Sgt. Raymond
the U. 8. Naval Training Station,! at the army
Great Lakes, Illinois. I I ield, I tah, has been
reat Lakes
iser, 27, hus
North Main
Stratton, 18,
Advanced in Rank
air
Their recruit training completed, I the rank of staff sergeant,
these men will spend a period of I the son of Mrs. L. T. Gr
leave at home. They are: Clark L. I West College avenue.
Basinger, 18, son of Mr. and Mrs. I Pvt. Edgar Huber, son of Mr. and
Gust Basinger, K. R. No. 2 and! Mrs. Harry Huber, in training with
Kenneth L. Finton, 18, son of Mr. I the marines at Oceanside, Calif., has
and Mrs. Wade J. Finton, 328 Cherry! been promoted to the rank of first
street. I class private.
the drive is to
their purchases if
go over the top.
In Allen county
campaign still is
schedule, but the celebration o!
Fourth of July and a renewed pa
triotic interest have given
impetus to bond buying this
Norman A. Triplett and
Bogart, co-chairman of the
campaign, said that much of
cess attained so fhr in this drive has
been assured by the conscientious
work of war bond solicitors who cov
ered the entire town in a house-to
house campaign.
larvey Beidler and Present
Bomber Commander Fellow
Students at Perkiomen
(General
Whenever Harvey Beidler, of South
Jackson street, reads of the exploits
is reminded of the days when he and I
Lieut. General Carl Spaatz, com-1
mander of the aerial arm overseas,
were schoolmates in Pennsylvania. I
He and Gen. Spaatz were fellow I
students at Perkiomen school, in I
Pennsburg, Pa., back in 1910. Spaatz, I
a sophomore, and Beidler, a fresh- I
man, were good friends.
Beidler recalls the Army Air Force!
chief as an average American boy,
soon to embark on his military ca-l
*eer, for he left the following year I
enroll in the U. S. Military acad
emy at West Point.
to
Spaatz’ father was editor of the I
Bucks County Democrat at Boyer
town, Pa., about 10 miles from Penns
burg. At that time, he spelled his
name Spatz, but later changed it to
Spaatz, to eliminate the possibility
of pronounciation to rhyme with
“cats”*
Today as commander of all U. S. I
bomber forces in England, General I
Spaatz is ranked as the world’s No. I
bomber, and the great planes oper-1
ating under his direction have caused
more damage to'German installations
than all the havoc Germany pil^d on
England in the early days of the
war.
Couple Is Wed In
Ceremony Sunday
Mrs.
Following a wedding dinner the
couple left for a short trip. They
will be at home at the Oberly resi
dence on Cherry street the last of
this week.
Stonehill Rites
Held Here Friday
afternoon in the St. John’s Reformed
church for J. William Stonehill, 77.
father of Clarence Stonehill
Mrs. Fairie Stager, of Bluffton.
V. C. Oppermann, pastor of
Mr. Stoneh
in the Scott
Kenton, folio
at Wendove
advanced
He
to
of
as a whole the I
running behind I
the Pfc. Walter Schnegg Who Saw
Spaatz it was who as a major com-1 Schnegg was a section man on the
manded the Fokker Monoplane "Ques-1 Nickel Plate railroad before going
tion Mark" on its famous endurance I into the army.
flight far back in the twenties. I
nold, Jimmy Doolittle and Ira Eaker, I He then was sent to Dayton where
all of whom are playing prominent! he was honorably discharged June
roles In this war’s air activities. I
NUMBER 11
BLUFFTON VETERAN
DISABLED IN ITALY
HITS COMPLACENCY
Action on Anzio Beach
head is Home
a new
week.
M. M.
Bluffton I Civilians do not Realize Serious
the sue-1 nesg Struggle, Veteran
American soldiers wallowing thru
mud and living in water-logged fox
holes on the Italian front feel that
too many civilians at home do not
realize the seriousness of the war,
according to Pfc. Walter Schnegg, 31,
who arrived home, in Bluffton Thurs
day night after having been dis
charged from the army because of
the
avenue.
Spaatz Left Perkiomen I unit overseas for 18 months.
To Enroll in West Point I saw action in Africa, Sicily and Italy.
Military Academy I ^e Anzio beachhead from Jan.
12t to Feb. 18 of this year, he
Mr. and Mrs.
South Lawn
an artillery
He
I Schnegg was with __
I developed a nervous disorder which
makes it necessary for him to walk
with a cane to maintain his balance.
During the first seven days on the
Anzio front, Schnegg saw the Nazis
put over 58 air raids, and men had
tents could be put
the air raids, and
live in the open in
mud.
up because of
soldiers had to
rain, snow and
Bitter About Strikes
FUJlCral Tuesday
of Mr. and Mrs. D. C.
the bride of Millard Oberly, in a I Ind., where he had been engaged in
ceremony at the home
brother, Dr. and Mrs.
of Spring street. I Nineteen years ago he purchased
The bride wore for the occasion a I He was born at
street length dress of romance blue
with white accessories. Her flowers
were a corsage of talisman rosebuds.
Rev.
icent home at
illness of one
condi
united
home
about
If civi-
Soldiers going thru these
tions feel they deserve the
support of everyone on the
front, and they are bitter
strikes in American plants. 1
lians could be at the front one hour
or two, the Fifth War Loan drive
would be oversubscribed in one day’s
I time, he said.
hnegg thinks the European war
will be over this year, but he said
I that many of the young Nazi soldiers
still feel they will win the war.
Older Nazi pi’isoners, however, are
doubtful.
The
country by boat A
servicemen, most of whom were
wounded, and was in a military
hospital at Martinsburg, West Vir
ginia, from April 18 to June 11.
to
For Wm» F» lutZl
Funeral services were held for
William F. lutzi, 72, Bluffton insur
ance representative at his residence
on Grove street,
Mr. lutzi died
day morning at
an hour’s illness
tack.
Tuesday afternoon,
at his home Sun
1 o’clock following
due to a heart at-
News of his death came as a
le to his many friends and
business associates.
Mildred Hartman, daughter I The family came to Bluffton 23
Bixel became years ago moving from Kokomo,
of the bride’s I farming, real estate and banking
Gordon Bixel business.
The double ring service was read I the D. S. Flick insurance agency fol
by Rev. J. N. Smucker of the First I lowing the latter’s death and oper
Mennonite church in the presence of I ated a steadily expanding business
the immediate family at noon. I in this
field.
erick and Johanna
ruary 13, 1896 he
Hopedale, Ind.,
the son of Fred
lutzi. On Feb
was married to
Johanna Helen Augspurger, who sur
vives. He was a lifelong member
of the Mennonite church.
Besides his wife he is survived by
three daughters: Mrs. Clarence
Kraft of Birmingham, Mich. Mrs.
Norman Edwards of Delphos and
Mrs. Leland Diller of Bluffton.
Survivors include the following!
children: Clarence Stonehill and I Graveside burial services were held
Mrs. Fairie Stager, of Bluffton Mrs.I at Maple Grove cemetery Saturday
Minnie Gaskins and George Stone-1 afternoon for the infant son of Mr.
hill, of Akron J. L. Stonehill, of I and Mrs. Robert Potee of Lima who
Ft. Wayne Brs. Carrie Brown, of I died shortly after birth in Bluffton
Letart, West Virginia Mrs. Helen I hospital, Saturday morning. Rev. A.
Inman, of Chicago, Ill. and Harold! F. Albro of the Missionary church
Stonehill, of Phoenix, Arizona. (officiated at the service.
sisters:
Also surviving
Mrs. Walter Phillips of Peoria, Ill.,
and Miss Louise lutzi of Hopedale,
Ill., and two brothers Otto
Hopedale, Ill., and Robert
Stanford, Illinois.
lutzi of
lutzi of
services
Officiating at the funeral
J. N. Smucker, pastor of
Mennonite church. Inter
in Maple Grove cemetery.
I the First
Graveside Rites
Held For Infant