The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-03
OHIO TOWN BIDS
FOR FAME ON JEFF
Big Fighter Has Carroll
for Birthplace.
IDOL OF TOWNSMEN
Bank Cashier Leaves Desk to Tell
of JeR as Small Boy TerrOr-Nil-
Iage barber AfEaid TO shave
Fighter After He Attains Fame.
Lived on n Farm.
REX BEACH.

Carroll. Ohio. July 2-"Do know
anyone who can tell you about JEFF
when he lived here? Well I should
say I do. Why I knew Jen when he
was so high"
C. E. Kistler. cashier Of the Farm
ers and Merchants bank of this vii
lage, climbed off the high stool on which
he was sitting. lowered his right hand
down to a level with his knee, and re-
peated;
Yes, sir, knew JEFF when he was
that high and when he wasn't quite
so high as that You see. I am Jeffs
cousin. and was his playmate when
we were kids
Born Near Carroll.
JEFF was born about two miles out
this road here" Kistler said, walking
to the door of the bank and pointing
out along the road which runs north
from the village, and he was at my
house as often as he was at his own
home"
Jeffs birthplace is two miles north
of Carroll. near a crossroads hamlet.
and about twenty-eight or thirty miles
southeast of Columbus.
Lets see" Kistler said, digging into
his record book, which he keeps along
side of the bank register, JEFF was born
April 10, 1875. ] am a little older than
jeff" Notice that JEFF; that's what
they all call the retired champion in his
native town. never Jim or James
There were six boys. Tom John,
Charlie. Cal. Jack. the youngest, and
JEFF. and then Lilly, the sister JEFF $
mother and father were both big peo-
pie, and all of the boys were big. At
four years OF age JEFF was as big as a
boy of seven, and he was a mighty
strong little fellow.
Liked Rough Play.
HE liked rough play and apparently
nothing could hurt him. OF course he
was so young that no one paid much
attention to him. but he wasn't the kind
TO have himself overlooked any. He
was just normal healthy boy. fond of
playing like other kids around here, and
stronger than the average.
"Jeffs father was a farmer when they
| lived here, but the winter before they
| left the old man was converted in the
Mt. Carmel Church The family moved
to California, where the father began
| preaching. The last night they were here
they stayed at our house, and the whole
family was vaccinated. I remember JEFF
didn't like the vaccination little bit,
but old DR.. Aldard scratched his arm
the same as the others.
| After Jeff won the championship by
whipping FitzsimmCns, he returned to
Carroll for a visit. Jim Smith. the Car
roll barber, remembers the visit well,
but he don't like to talk about it. Kist-
Ter tells the story.
Barber Gave II UD.
~"Jeff wanted shave" Kistler says
''and he went into Jim Smiths shop
climbed into the chair and told Jim
to get busy. Now Jim don't usually
get ratified, but he did this time. Every
man in the town who was around crowd
ed into the shop to see CAROLS most
| famous citizen shaved. and Smith was
nervous He made two or three blind
attempts to strop the razor. gave il up
and finally JEFF shaved himself"
Down here, they think Mrs. Jeffries is
the sweetest and prettiest little woman iT
! the world. She visited here last winter
when jeff was touring the country, anc
they are still talking about her
The old Jeffries homestead is now oc
cupied by widow, Mrs. Pierce by
name. Mrs. Pierce said she didn't know
she was living in the house where tbs
undefeated heavyweight champion scrap
per of the world first tested his lungs By
squalling-all babies squall-until folks
began driving up to the place at al
hours of the day and night and asking
her questions.
All Bet on JET.
But the male population. of Carroll i;
particularly interested in the big fellow
Kistler has set of boxing gloves which
JEFF gave him last winter. and thes'
gloves are one Of the principal attrae