The Bluffton news. [volume], March 18, 1948, Image 1

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BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Live
VOLUME LXXII
COAL RATIONED AS
DEALERS HERE ACT
TO SPREAD SUPPLY
Meagre Reserves In Bluffton
Coal Yards As Coal Miners
Begin Strike
Voluntary Rationing Imposed
By Dealers To Assure Fuel
For Those In Need
Dealer rationing of coal was put
into effect here the first of this
week, with deliveries restricted to
householders in pressing need of
fuel, in an effort to conserve meagre
stock piles in Bluffton coal yards.
As the coal mine strike continued
to spread, the outlook was dark so
far as local deliveries were concern
ed, for miners walked off the job
at a time when local coal yard sup
plies were at one of the season’s
lowest points.
In addition to imposing the
•voluntary rationing program, Bluff
ton dealers said those in need of
fuel would have to take what was
available, and there would be no
choice other than what is on hand.
Altho coal yards are without suf
ficient reserves, the situation is not
expected to reach serious proportions
unless unusually cold weather con
tinues through March and the early
part of April.
For the most part, it is believed
loeal householders have fairly ample
supplies in their bins, and many will
have sufficient coal to finish out the
season.
Commercial users, such as the
municipal light and power plant and
the Central Ohio Light and Power
Co. normally build up coal reserves
in advance, and full-effect of a shut
down in coal supplies from mines
will not be felt for some time.
Elias Schumacher
Funeral Sunday
Elias Schumacher, 65, employe of
the Pandora Stone Co. and father of
Mrs. Robert Bonroth and Mrs. Denver
Zimmerly, both of Bluffton, died
Friday morning in Lima St. Rita’s
hospital, from complications after
an illness of three months.
Son of John and Barbara (Geiger)
Schumacher, he was born March 5.
1883, in Richland township. He was
married on Nov. 16, 1910, to Mary
Elizabeth Yost, who survives.
In addition to Mrs. Benroth and
Mrs. Zimmerly, of Bluffton, there
are two other children: Mrs. Milton
Reichenbach, Pandora, and Francis
Schumacher, Columbus Grove.
Surviving brothers and sisters in
clude Mrs. Alfred Brauen, Mrs.
Salome Basinger, Mrs. Elam Suter,
Peter and Gideon Schumacher, all of
Pandora, and John Schumacher, Van
Nuys, Calif. There are 10 grand
children.
Funeral services were held Sunday
afternoon in the Lehman funeral
home Pandora, Rev. John Steiner of
ficating, following which services
were at the Grace Mennonite church,
With Rev. Ernest Bohn officiating.
Interment was in Pleasant Ridge
■cemetery.
Former Pandora
Woman Succumbs
Mrs. Kathryn Badertscher King,
81, of Los Angeles, died March 8
of a heart ailment in that city ac
cording to word received here the
first of the week. She was the
widow of the late Rev. David S.
King, former pastor of the St. John
Mennonite church near Pandora. The
family lived there for a number of
years.
She was born in Richland town
ship the daughter of Mr. and Mrs.
J. U. Badertscher.
She is survived by two sons and
two daughters also four sisters
Mrs. Sarah Basinger, California,
Mo., Mrs. Susan Aeschbaucher, For
tuna, Mo., and the Misses Lydia and
Barbara Badertscher of Denver, Col
orado. She was a sister of the late
Peter Badertscher of this place.
Benefit Program For
Legion Next Monday
The public is invited to a benefit
party sponsored by the Bluffton
American Legion post at 8 p. m.
next Monday in the Legion hall.
Proceeds of the evening’s enter
tainment will be used to "help defray
the expenses of remodeling the hall.
Last Monday, Legion members
were entertained by Reeder C.
Hutchinson, Defiance City solicitor
.and a prominent amateur magician,
who presented a full evening pro
gram for the group.
Colletta Badertscher
State Meet Delegate
Colletta Badertscher, daughter of
Mrs. Geneva Badertscher, Poplar
street, has been named Bluffton dele
gate to Buckeye Girl’s State, a pro
ject camp in Americanism sponsored
by the American Legion auxiliary.
Sara Bracy, daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Homer Bracy, was named alter
nate, by the local Legion Auxiliary,
sponsor of the local delegate.
The annual meeting will be held
June 20 to 27 at Capital university
to instruct high school junior girls
in legislative affairs and to acquaint
them with the functions of good gov
ernment in a democracy.
TELEVISION CABLE
TO GO WITHIN ONE
MILE OF BLUFFTON
A. T. & T. Negotiating Here
Now for Right-of-Way for
Underground Line
Cable Will Connect Cincinnati
and Detroit for Radio and
Television
An underground cable to carry
radio and television programs
between Toledo and Cincinnati will
pass within one mile of downtown
Bluffton, according to plans disclosed
last week when the A. T. and T.
began negotiating with farmers
north and west of town for right-of
way privileges.
Installation of the coaxial cable,
however, is believed to be at least a
year away, altho no dates have been
announced.
Connecting Detroit and Cincinnati,
the cable misses towns, but in gener
al will follow a route paralleling the
Dixie highway. Its nearest approach
(Continued on page 10)
Lewis Hauenstein
Rites This Friday
Funeral services will be held at
2:30 p. m. Friday in the Paul Diller
funeral home for Lewis C. Hauen
stein, 68, Jackson township farmer,
who died at his home Tuesday noon,
after suffering a stroke of apoplexy
last Friday.
Collapsing in his bam while doing
his evening chores, Hauenstein was
found lying on the floor by his
daughter-in-law, Mrs. Kenneth
Hauenstein.
Classes In Religious Education Will
Continue In Schools Here For Present
Born Sept. 3, 1879, in Richland
township, he was the son of Samuel
and Caroline (Augsburger) Hauen
stein. He was maried on Nov. 19,
1904, to Mae Stober, who survives.
Surviving children include Mrs.
LaVaun High, Ada Mrs. Lenore
Weaver, East Detroit, Mich. Mrs.
Trollis Garmatter, Rawson Betty
Hauenstein, Lima Darwin Hauen
stein, Ada Cloyce Hauenstein, Ada:
and Kenneth Hauenstein, Lafayette.
Brothers and sisters living are
Mrs. Pearl Huber, Bluffton Mrs.
Lillie Anderson, Beaverdam Mrs.
Katherine Huber, Ada Mrs. Gladys
Ream, Lima Levi Hauenstein," Bluff
ton Sidney Hauenstein, Columbus
Grove Clyde Hauenstein, Bluffton
and Carl Hauenstein, Lima. A half
brother William E. Augsburger, lives
in Los Gatos, Calif.
There are 14 grandchildren.
Rev. L. D. Fauver will officiate at
the funeral service Friday in the
Diller funeral home. Burial will be
in the Pleasant Hill cemetery. The
body will be taken to the home on
Wednesday, and returned to the fun
eral home for the service.
Evangelistic Series
Will Close Sunday
The Tri-County Union Evangelistic
campaign led by Dr. R. J. Wells
continues through Sunday night in
the Bluffton high school ,auditorium.
Sermon titles for the remainder of
the campaign are: Wednesday, “God
Doesn’t Want You to Go to Hell
Thursday, “Chased Out of the
World Friday, “Excuses That
Damn Men’s Souls Saturday, “A
Refuge of Lies Sunday afternoon,
“Meet Me in Heaven Sunday even
ing, “The Greatest Crime, the Great
est Failure, and the Greatest Tri
umph in the History of the World.”
Dr. Wells who has traveled as a
song evangelist for a number of
years will direct the singing of the
congregation and the choir. He will
play his cornet in each service.
All evening services are held at
7:30 p. m. and the Sunday after
noon service at 2:30 p. m.
Church Council Sponsor Waits
for Clarification of Court
Ruling
Supreme Court Unconstitution
ality Ruling May Not Be
Applied Locally
Religious education classes in the
Bluffton grade school will be con
tinued pending final clarification of
a ruling last week by the U. S. Su
preme court to the effect that “the
use of public school systems to help
any religious group spread its faith”
is unconstitutional.
Announcement that the schedule
of religious education classes here
will be unchanged came following a
recommendation from the Ohio Coun
cil of Churches that courses be con
tinued until the actual meaning of
the court ruling is made clear.
Bluffton is one of 68 Ohio school
systems sponsoring classes in relig
ious education through the Council
of Religious Education, an inter
denominational church group repre
senting local churches.
Teaching of pupils in grades one
through six is paid by the churches,
and there is no financial contribution
from the board of education to sup
port the classes.
Attendance Voluntary
Attendance in the classes is volun
tary and any pupil may be excused
upon written consent from parents,
School Supt. Ralph Lanham said.
Classes average 40 minutes of in
struction per week.
Of the 260 pupils in the first six
grades, 259 have been in the classes,
the superintendent pointed out. One
student has been excused.
Rev. V. C. Oppermann, president
of the Council of Religious Educa
tion in Bluffton, said there has been
no meeting of the group since the
supreme court ruling was announced.
Broad policies of education in re
ligious instruction thruout the state
are determined by Ohio Council of
Churches, and any action looking to
ward the future of religious educa
tion in the schools here will be guid
ed largely by recommendation of the
state organization.
Funeral Sunday For
Gideon A. Burkholder
Funeral services were held Sun
day afternoon in the Ebenezer Men
nonite church for Gideon A. Burk
holder, 82, retired farmer, who died
at 4:10 p. m. Thursday of a heart
attack in his home on Railroad
street.
Had he lived until Saturday he
would have celebrated the 58th anni
versary of his wedding to Ann Bixel
on March 13, 1890.
In addition to the widow, survivors
include three daughters, Mrs. Paul
Diller, Mrs. Calvin Steiner and Mrs.
Harry Gratz, all of Bluffton three
sons, Harley Burkholder, at home
Alvin Burkholder, Findlay, and Wil
liam Burkholder, Bluffton and three
brothers, Menno Burkholder, Bluff
ton John Burkholder, Rockport, and
Reuben T. Burkholder, Arlington,
Washington.
Rev. Howard Landis officiated at
funeral services Sunday in the Eben
ezer Mennonite church. Burial was
in the church cemetery.
Union Services To
Mark Holy Week
Union services beginning Sunday
night, will be held in Bluffton
churches during Holy Week, it is
announced by the Bluffton Minis
terial association. Our Suffering Re
deemer is the theme of the meetings
which have been announced as fol
lows:
Sunday, 7:30 p. m.—First Metho
dist Church. Topic, “The Arrest.”
Speaker, Prof. Paul Shelly.
Monday, 7:30 p. m.—First Men
nonite Church. Topic, “The Accusa
tion” Speaker, Rev. Robert R.
Welch.
Tuesday, 7:30 p. m.—St. John’s
Evangelical & Reformed Church.
Topic, “The Crown of Thoms.”
Speaker, Rev. W. H. Lahr.
Wednesday, 7:30 p. m.—First
Methodist Church. Topic—“The Way
of the Cross.” Speaker, Rev. V. C.
Oppermann.
Thursday, 7:30 p. m.—First Men
nonite Church. Union Communion
Service. Topic, “The Covenant In
My Blood.” Speaker, Rev. Paul H.
Cramer.
Friday--Union Good Friday Serv
ices at First Presbyterian Church
from 1:00-3:30 p. m.
Sunday—Easter Sunrise Services
at 6:30 a. m. at First Methodist
Church, sponsored by Bluffton Youth
Federation. Speaker, Rev. E. N.
Bigelow.
THE BLUFFTON NEWS
A NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF BLUFFTON AND VICINITY
BLUFFTON, OHIO, THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 1918
THREE JUMP AS
TRAIN SMASHES
RAIL MOTOR CAR
Trio Leaps to Safety from Path
of Fast Nickel Plate
Freight
Signal Crew's Car Wrecked Be
tween Cherry and Jeffer
son Street Crossings
Three Nickel Plate railroad signal
maintenance men narrowly escaped
death Friday morning at 7:45,
between the Cherry and Jefferson
street crossings of the road, when a
fast freight ran down and demolish
ed their motor car, seconds after
they had jumped to safety.
Men of the signal maintenance
crew on the motor car were Paul
Schumacher and John Gary, both of
Bluffton, sr.d John Harwood, Tipton.
Ind.
The men had just left the Bluff
ton depot, one and one-half blocks
away, and were traveling eastward
when they were overtaken by the
fast eastbound freight train.
Hearing the locomotive bearing
down on them from the rear, the
trio leaped to safety, but had no
time to remove their motor car from
the rails. It was completely de
molished by the locomotive, but no
one was hurt and there was no
damage to the locomotive.
The motor car, powered by a
gasoline motor, is similar to the
old-time handcars, formerly used by
railroad section crews.
BY HARRY L. HAU
Editor’s Note—This is
on*
of a series of articles to appear
in the Bluffton News dealing
with early Ohio history. Others
will appear in forthcoming
issues.
The Memories That
Came
At a rickety table in a tumble
down tavern in Malden, 30 miles a
cross the water from Put-in-Bay, a
hoary headed and grizzled old man
nodded and mumbled at his own
memories. When he raised his eye
lids under the shaggy brows a curious
guest saw white spots on his pupils.
“Do you know who that is?” the
slovenly land lady, about 30, asked
Daniel Workman, from Logan
County, who had shown his interest.
Then not waiting for an answer she
added: “It is Simon Girty—my
father.”
That was in 1816 and at the site of
Ft. Malden, from under whose guns
the British ships had put out three
years before to meet defeat by Perry.
Girty, white renegade and arch
enemy of his own race, was blind.
In February, 1818, Simon Girty
died. He was buried in a slab-marked
grave on the little farm, a few miles
below Malden, which the British had
given him “for his loyalty.”
Girty, in 1784, had married a white
girl, Catherine Malett, whom he and
the Indians had captured on the Ohio
River in 1780. Their daughter had
married a Frenchman, who with her,
ran the Malden Inn.
Terror to Settlers
Girty’s blood stained fame was wide
and for many years his name struck
terror in the hearts of settlers all
over Ohio. More cruel and ruthless
than the savages with whom he lived,
he attained the reputation of being
the worst renegade the world then or
since, ever has known.
Five feet, ten inches tall and
heavily built, the renegade was said
to have been a man “of extraordinary
strength, power of endurance, cour
age and sagacity.” Why he so hated
the whites is not known but Simon
Kenton, who knew him well, related
that he joined the Indians because of
anger at not having received a mili
tary promotion.
In September, 1777, Girty led the
Indians in their attack on Ft. Henry,
on the site of Wheeling. Also he led
the attack on Baker’s station, not far
away, and in August, 1782, attacked
Bryan’s station, near Lexington.
He directed the ambush massacre
of the Kentuckians at Blue Lick and
was active in the defeat of St. Clair
and the attack on Colerain village,
(Continued on page 3)
MARRIAGE LICENSE
A marriage license has been issued
to Richard Hauenstein and Joyce
Young, both of Bluffton.
Miss Joan McCarty, pictured above,
will reign over the May Day
Festivities
Interesting Phases of Manu
facture Seen in Visit Tues
day Night
Plant of Boss Company Has
Been in Operation in Bluff
ton 40 Years
Interesting phases of one of Bluff
ton’s majcr industrial operations
were studied at first-hand Tuesday
night when members of the Lions
club were conducted on an evening
tour of the Boss Glove Company’s
Bluffton plant, a three floor brick
structure on North Main street, es
tablished here 40 years ago.
Guide of the clubmen was Charles
Lloyd, manager of the local factory
for 28 years. Lloyd has been with
the Boss company for 39 years.
They Will Reign At Bluffton College
Campus Festivities, Saturday, May 29
May Queen
Demonstration of a three-ton cut
ting machine which die cuts the ma
(Continued on page 10)
Mother Of Bluffton
Man Dies In West
Mrs. Elizabeth Milne Tosh, 83,
mother of John Tosh of Bluffton,
died at her home in Santa Cruz,
Calif., last Thursday morning at
10:30 o’clock. Death followed sev
1 eral years’ illness.
She was born in Kerrimuir, Scot
land, and was married in Hawaii to
John Tosh who died in 1927. In
1906 the family moved to California
where she has since resided.
Funeral services were held Satur
day morning in Santa Cruz and in
the afternoon at Modesto, Calif., fol
lowed by burial there.
Besides her son of this place she
is survived by three other sons: Rev.
S. M. Tosh, Redwood City, Calif.
James L. Tosh, Walnut Creek, Calif.,
and D. L. Tosh, Terra Bella, Calif.,
and two daughters Mrs. Margaret
iJohnstone and Miss Elizabeth Tosh
both of Santa Cruz.
Mrs. Tosh, accompanied by her
daughter, Miss Elizabeth Tosh and
1 the latter’s adopted daughter Miss
Melb» Tosh visited in Bluffton in
the summer of 1936.
Last Rites Held For
Former Teacher Here
Mrs. Agatha Ostendorf, 77, born
in Bluffton May 8, 1870, and a teach
er here before her marriage, died
Sunday morning in Lima St. Rita’s
hospital where she had been a pa
tient for five weeks.
She was the daughter of Mr. and
Mrs. Andrew Owens, a prominent
Bluffton family, and married Henry
Ostendorf of Ft. Jennings in 1901.
He died in 1936. Mrs. Ostendorf
had lived in Delphos for the last 20
years.
Surviving are two sisters, Mrs.
Hortense Lowry, East Chicago, Ind.
and Mrs. Zenobia Esely, Loudenville
and a brother, Joseph Owens, De
troit.
Funeral services were held Wed
nesday in Delphos, and burial was at
Ft. Jennings.
Prof. Smucker Named
Officer Of New Unit
Prof. Carl Smucker, of Bluffton
college, has been elected vice-presi
dent of the newly organized Allen
County Mental Hygiene organization.
Establishment of a mental hygiene
clinic in Lima is one of the projects
of the newly formed group, to help
prevent the unfavorable effects of
meontal illness.
Judge Raymond P. Smith, of the
Allen county court of common pleas,
is president of the organization.
Maid Of Honor
Lions Club Makes Tour Of Boss Glove
Factory, Major Industrial Plant Here
Miss Clymenia Hamman, will assist
the Queen beginning with the
Crowning Ceremony
$375 CASH LOOT
TAKEN IN MT. CORY
SCHOOL BURGLARY
Two Burglars Obtain Cash By
Forcing Filing Cabinet
In School Office
Receipts From School Cafeteria
and Student Funds Taken In
Thursday Burglary
Burglars who broke into the office
of the Mt. Cory High school building
last Thursday night escaped with
cash loot of H)75, ’.which they ob
tained by forcing^pen a steel filing
cabinet.
Discovery of the robbery was not
made until Friday morning when the
janitor reported for duty.
Entrance was gained to the build
ing by forcing an outside door in
the school auditorium. Nothing was
disturbed by the burglars until they
reached the school office on the
third floor where they smashed a
glass panel to gain admittance.
The cash, representing receipts
from the school cafeteria and student
funds, was locked in a steel filing
cabinet, which was broken open by
the looters. An additional sum of
money was overlooked.
Tracks In Snow
Tracks in new-fallen snbw indicat
ed the burglary had been committed
by two persons, who parked an auto
mobile on Route 69, north of the
school building.
Hancock county sheriff and sher
iff’s deputies who investigated took
fingerprints and made a complete
search for other clues.
Sheriff Orla Cooper believes the
culprits left in haste for departure
evidently was made through the
southwest door. The door was jim
mied and a staple twisted from the
inside.
A w oman living across the street
from the school told the sheriff she
had her lights on at 12:30 and again
at 1:30 a. m. when her baby cried.
Authorities believe the burglars saw
the lights at one time or the other
which would account for missing part
of the money and leaving through
another exit.
Births
The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr. and Mrs. Forest Basinger,
Bluffton, a girl, Sharon Ann, Thurs
day.
Mr. and Mrs. Carl Amstutz, Bluff
ton, a girl, Penny Elaine, Friday.
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Crawford,
Jenera, a boy, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Loren Williams,
Findlay, a girl, Tuesday.
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Murray, Jr.,
Bluffton, a boy, Paul Michael at
Lima Memorial hospital, Sunday.
Mr. and Mrs. Hai*old Stevens, San
dusky, a girl, Mary Sue, born last
Wednesday in the Good Samaritan
hospital in that city, Mrs. Stevens is
a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Otto
Amstutz.
Mr. and Mrs. Dale Feikert, Colum
bus, a boy, Edward Eugene born
March 7. Mrs. Feikert is a daugh
ter of Mr. and Mrs. Calvin Lugin
buhl.
Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sommer,
Shanghai, China, a boy, Philip Roy.
Mr. Sommer, a former Pandora resi
dent, is engaged in Chinese relief.
BLUFFTON
A Good Place to Trade
NUMBER 48
FIRE BUG SCARE
DIES AFTER YOUTH
CONFESSES ARSON
17-’Year-01d Boy Is Arrested
At Scene of Fourth Fire
in Six Weeks
Youth Admits Firing Bam on
John Thompson Farm,
Razed Friday
Anxiety of Bluffton area farmers
after arson was suspected in a se
ries of four fires within a six-week
period near Raw’son was quieted this
week with announcement that Han
cock county authorities are holding a
17-year-old youth as the confessed
arsonist responsible for one of the
blazes.
The youth was taken into custody
at the scene of the latest fire, in
which a barn on the John Thompson
farm, one and one-half miles south
of Rawson on the Rawson road,
burned to the ground Friday night.
Although he is said to have con
fessed to firing the Thompson barn,
the 17-yCar-old boy, a resident of
the community, denied having set
fire,to two other barns and a filling
station which burned in the same
vicinity within the last six weeks.
He told Hancock County Sheriff
Orla Cooper that on the night of the
Thompson fire he left his home in
an automobile with a friend. When
they reached the Thompson home, he
said, he asked his friend to stop be
(Continued on page 10)
Four Get Top Rating
In H. S. Music Meet
Four superior ratings were received
by Bluffton high school students at
the Northwestern District Music Con
test last Saturday. These will compete
April 9 at the O. S. U. State Contest.
Bluffton High School music de
partment was represented by five
vocal solos, a piano solo, boy’s en
semble, and girls ensemble in the
Class division.
Treva Althaus, alto, and Donald
Herr, baritone, received superior
ratings.
Both the Boys and Girls Ensemble
received a superior grade. “Celito
Lindo” was presented by the Girls
Ensemble which consists of Ada May
Oyer, Dora Jean Luginbuhl, Ruth
Diller, Jean Burkholder, Anita Alt
haus, Lois Marquart, Mary Burk
holder, and Mary Ann Smucker. Har
riett Burkhart was the accompanist.
Boys Ensemble consisting of Lynn
Carmack, Luke Luginbill, Dave Hof
stetter, Eugene Hankish, Roger Lin
den, Ted Kohli, Sam Buhler, and Don
Herr sang “Sheep May Safely Graze”
by Bach. Ruth Diller accompanied
them. The Boys Ensemble received
special praise from the judge for pre
senting so difficult a song.
Other ratings are: Ada May Oyer,
piano, excellent Ralph Dunifon, bari
tone, excellent Luke Luginbill, tenor,
excellent Bonnie Deeds, soprano,
very good.
When a quartette from Montgom
ery High School was minus their
bass, Donald Herr pinched-hit for
them. A superior rating was given to
them also.
Rites Monday For
Mrs. Albert Winkler
Funeral services were held at
2:30 p. m. Monday in the First Men
nonite church for Mrs. Albert Wink
ler, 60, who died at 6:30 a. m. Fri
day in the family home, one mile
west of Bluffton, after a short ill
ness. A heart ailment caused the
death.
Bom in Richland township Oct. 29,
1887, she was the daughter of Sam
uel and Verena (Luginbuhl) Nis
wander. She married Albert Winkler
on Dec. 24, 1911.
Survivors include the husband
tliree children: Verena Winkler,
Akron, Pa. Mrs. Marie Quenzer, San
Miguel, Calif., and Kenneth Winkler,
Bluffton and two brothers, Gideon
Niswandcr, Ottawa, and James Nis
wander, Randolph, Alabama.
Mrs. Winkler was a member of
the First Mennonite church, where
funeral services were held. Rev. J.
N. Smucker, pastor of the church,
officiated. Burial was in the
Ebenezer cemetery.
Opens Beauty Shop
On Church Street
Mrs. Ruth Steinman, former Bluff
ton beautician has opened a new
establishment in the Staater build
ing on Church street to be known as
the Beatrice Beauty shop.
The quarters have been re-decorat
ed and adequately equipped for
beauty service, she announced.