davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

Heather played the voluntary, and
there was special music by the choir,
and a solo, Just for Today by DR.
Clifton Bedding, after which the dedi-
catory sermon was preached by Presi-
dent E. A. Schell, D. D., of the Iowa
Wesleyan College, and it was pow
erful sermon and one which was APP
preciated by the large congregation.
After the sermon the task of raising
funds to complete the fund for the
payment Of the new church was TAX
en- up and met with a very liberal
response, the total amount raised
during the day being about $6,45O,
and this was sufficient to pay all bills
against the new church and leave a
very substantial sum to apply on par
sonage repairs.
At the noon hour there was big
ment of the church which is fitted up
for dining room, with a convent
ent kitchen and all conveniences and
there was a genuine old Methodist
basket dinner.
At 3 O'Clock in the afternoon there
was a fraternal service, solo by
Miss Josephine Blair and special mo-
sic by the choir, addresses being
made by Dr.. A. A. Thompson, D. d.,
the district superintendent, and by
Rev. A. B. Cornell, pastor of the Van
Vert Christian church. The new
communion set was consecrated and
the Lords Supper partaken of.
At the evening service the volun-
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

or Sunday school room being 19x34
feet, with the pastors study Skis
feet adjoining. The main entrance
and vestibule is in the southwest
corner, while there is also an en-
trance and vestibule at the northwest
corner. The pulpit is placed in
the northeast corner of the audi
forum and is easily seen from
any part of the main floor The choir
position is situated to the right of
the pulpit along the north wall. There
is an entrance to the pastors study
off the pulpit platform. The baptis-
try is located in the corner, back of
the pulpit position where it is made
accessible by the lifting of a trap
door.
The arrangement of the entire
floor space is creditable. It affords
an abundance Of room for the oun-.
day school, Epworth League. and the
mid-week services, besides aff0rding
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

to the actual life of the members Of
the society, for they are busy as bees
when it comes to the financing Of
the church enterprises.
The Boys Glass window is the gift
of Mrs. Stearns' class of boys, who
had commenced to save for an Offer
ing to the church funds long before
there was any visible evidence OF a
new church. They have made many
sacrifices, and are justly proud OF
their window in the new church.
The Young Mems Bible Class also
conceived the idea of contributing as
class to the erection of the new
building and the beautiful window is
their offering, as we'll as many in
dividual offerings to the building
fund.
The Newton and Lucinda Jane
Spencer window is the gift of rela-
came to this country in 1856, and
the Van Vert Methodist church, Mr..
Spencer for many years being class
leader and their home was for years
the stopping place OF the Methodist
ministers who preached there.
The Seth and Margaret Samson
window is both a gift and memorial
window, being presented by Rev.
Samson, an elder in the church to
perpetuate the memory of his be-
loved wife. Although IS years of
age Rev. Samson is still quite active
in church work.
+ The James and Louise Blair win
dow is an honor worthily bestowed
by their children. They were among
the first Methodists in that vicinity
and their memory is revered by their
children and all the people of the
church.
The Walter Hampton window was
contributed by Mr.. and Mrs. E. N.
who died in 1911.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

The Jonathan and Carrie Stearns
window is located on the north side
of the pastors study. They have
both been members of the official
board for years and have place of
affection in the hearts of all the
members of the church.
The BranSOn-KeaSt window is in
the pastors study and the church
thought it just and proper to place
memorial window to the honor of
the pastors who commenced and fin
ished the work of erecting new
church which is the pride of all the
members of the organization.
The dedication OF the new church
marks an era in the church organiza-
ton, which today is united and
stronger than ever in the history of
the church. The church membership
consists of representatives from LOG
families and a number of families
are represented in the Sunday school
who are not in the membership of
the church. The church services are
well attended and will increase with
the new church in use. The Sunday
school has splendid enrolment and
the classes are all we'll attended. H.
o. futile is superintendent and he
and the school are planning on great
things for the future. The Adult
Bible Glass meets regularly. and the
International Sunday school lessons
are studied with great interest by
the members. Mr.. E. j. Blair is
teacher with Mr.. J. B. Allen assist
ant teacher.
The Epworth League excels, nu-
merically, that Of any charge in the
Charlton district. Miss Lamoree
conducts the Bible Study Glass meet
ings, and the mission study classes
are conducted by Miss Izora Heather.
Besides giving the new church
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

large space, by the raising of the
rolling partition, for the large gath
erings Of the church and commun-
ity.
The basement is divided into ban
quet room 24x3S, reading room
l2xl9, kitchen 13x16, serving room
13x16, coal and furnace room 19x3l
feet and closet and vestibule. Ev-
erything is arranged for convenience
and the basement is one Of the incest
parts of the new building.
The dome of the building is cover
ed entirely with copper. The church
is heated with a furnace and lighted
with gas lights, although the entire
building is wired for electric lights
which will be installed as soon as the
Leon Electric Co. extends their line
to Van Vert, which will probably
be the coming summer.
The interior of the building is
painted and frescoed in beautiful
tints, the work being done by that
excellent workman, VIM. Mckay, of
Leon. The colors blend perfectly
with the art glass in the windows and
dome, the tan hue of the lower walls
gradually blending out to faint
cream as it reaches and covers the
ceiling, and loses itself in the more
gayly colored art glass of the DOME
The ivory colored panels of the cell
ing designs stand out in delightful
contrast and lend both distance and
enchantment to the final striking eff
fects of the room. All the other
rooms are finished with equal care
and artistic design. The church is
seated with comfortable curved seats,
with carved ends, the material of the
seats being oak
One of the striking features of the
new church are the beautiful art
glass windows, which are the finest
we have ever seen in a church OF
equal size and cost.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

matter decided to proceed at once
and erect new church to cost from
eight to ten thousand dollars. A
soliciting committe consisting of E.
.. Stearns, J. c. Fierce, E. J. Blair.
E. w. Fierce and Rev. Keast were
appointed and they worked faith
fully until their task was completed.
A building committee was appointed
consisting :of A. E. Blair, f.. j. Blair;
F. Binning, J. C. Fierce, A. B. Rich
ey, p. 0. Stearns, H. 0. futile and G..
c. Waters to take charge of the
building of the new church.
On July -, 1913, the contract for
the new church was awarded to Teas
Bros, Of Charlton, and in short
time the work of excavating was
commenced. The corner stone of
the building was laid with appropri-
ate ceremonies on October 3, 1913.
1t is a block of Bedford stone on
which is inscribed
Nj. f.. CHURCH
1856 1913
Work was pushed right through
the winter on the new building and
everything connected with it's erec-
ton has gone off like clOckWOrk. The
contractors filled every promise and
the church is certainly first class in
every respect. The church is 46x62
feet, constructed of St. Louis n.y.
draulic pressed brick, dark colored
below the water table and light gray
above. On the main floor is the
auditorium. 3Sx3S feet, the lecture
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26
Mrs. TimOn Young.

Miss Eva Kolb was born June "a,
1888, in Aufenau, near Frankfort,
Germany, and died in Garden Grove
at the home of her son, II. H. Young
on March 10, 1914, aged 80 years, 8
months and 10 days.
When young she immigrated to
America and lived in New York City
at which place she was married to
Mr.. Timon Young, March %, 1855,
and Immediately they came west,
reaching Garden Grove, April 10,
1855, and ever since then she has
made her home here.
She was the mother of eight chill
dren, six sons and two daughters, all
of whom are living and were at her
bedside during her last Illness She
also leaves twenty-four ;grandchil-
dren and six great-grandchildren, all
of whom will miss her loving kind
ness. She was kind and affection
ate mother, grandmother and great
grandmother and a good neighbor.
She was born a member of the
Roman Catholic church, and was ev-
er most faithful and consistent
christian woman, and ever since
coming to Garden Grove she has been
a worshipper with the Presbyterian
church, whose services and songs she
dearly loved. Grandma Young was
loved and honored by the whole COM
munity and we shall deeply feel her
loss.
The funeral services were held at
the Garden Grove Presbyterian
church on March 18th, by the pastor
nev. D. NJ. Good, assisted by the
former pastor, John Wilson, in the
presence of q large gathering Of
relatives and friends, and the. re-
mains were inferred in the Garden
Grove cemetery.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

considerable enthusiasm and Rev.
Branson, the pastor thought the time
was ripe to begin preparations for
building a new church, and appoint
ed a committee consisting of A. Il.
Blair, e. N. Hampton, Mrs. Cora
Belding, E. E. Walker, Izora Heath
er, Mrs. G. D. Tallman, Grace KEEL
Ter, S. Scarborough, Mrs. D. p. Tut
tie, Mrs. c. F. Fierce and Mrs. S.
Jennings to canvass for funds for
new building. But nothing further
seems to have been done in the mat
ter until the present popular and en-
ergetic pastor, Rev. Martin H. Keast,
was assigned as pastor of the church
in March 1913. He decided that
new church must be built and his de-
cision seems to have settled the mat
ter. On May 9th he called meet
Ing of the trustees at which time
the board was organized with e. 0.
Stearns president, H. o. futile Sec
rotary and J. Stearns treasurer. The
attention of the board was called to
the need of new church, and the
board after carefully considering the
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

end, THE Good Shepherd" is indeed
a rare exhibit of the art glass max
er's handiwork. There are fifteen
art windows in the building.
The w. F. NJ S. window was given
by the Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society of the church. 1t is located
in the main entrance of the auditOri-
UNI, and bears the inscription "Sav-
ed for Service"
The Sunday school window is one
half of the large window in the south
wall of the building. 1t was contrib
uted by the Adult Bible Glass and
the Sunday School, the emblem de-
sign being the Sunday School flag,
surrounded by the red circle adopted
as the badge of the Adult Bible Class
movement.
The Epworth League window was
a gift of the young peoples organiza-
ton. It is located back of the pull
pit and the emblem, the Maltese
Cross, stands out with pronounced
effect.
The G. A. r. window in the vesti-
bule of the northwest corner of the
auditorium is the gift of the old SOL
diers of the local Post, many of
whom have also been soldiers of the
cross of Christ
The Masonic window is the gift
of the members of that order, and as
the teachings of the order are for
brotherly love it is fitting that this
order should make gift to aid in
the construction of this beautiful
house of worship. h,
The Ladies' Aid Society window is
the gift OF the ladies' organization,
in addition to other large contribu-
tons. The bees buzzing about the
beehive emblem in the window is not
intended as q prophetic message,
but. in one respect at least. relates
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

Last Sunday was gala day in
Methodism at Van Vert, the occasion
being the dedication of their magni-
ficent new church building, just COM
pleted at cost of about $4,000,
and when the day closed the pastor
and church organization had the sat
isfaction Of knowing that the funds
had been provided for the payment
of every dollar due on the new
church and about $500 left with
which to start the repairing of the
parsonage.
The exercises opened at 10 a. NJ,
and the church was crowded with
people, many of them driving in from
the surrounding country, bringing
their dinners with the intention of
making a day of it, Miss Izora
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26
Van WERT'S new NJ. f. CHURCH DEDICATED
Dedication Ceremonies Sunday and Every Dollar fer the Fine
$4,000 EdfiCe Has Been Provided For

Vile and the Methodists finally per-
fected a church organization, the
charter members being James Blair,
Carlos Clark, Nathan Perdue, New
ton Spencer, William Warner, Louise
Blair, Mrs. Carlos Clark, Mary Per-
due, Lucinda Spencer and Lovina
Warner. The first church was erect
ed in 1888, the material used being
native lumber. Rev. Talmage was
the pastor of the little congregation
and he did much of the work, al
though he had but one arm. The
people met in the church for three
years before it was plastered, and
the seats We're rough planks laid
across dry goods boxes. 1t was ten
or a dozen years before these were
replaced with walnut seats. In this
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

tary was beautifully rendered by
Miss Heather and Mr.. Blair and again
there was special music by the choir,
and DR.. Clifton Bedding sang ''The
Two Cities" Another splendid SER
mon was delivered by President
Schell and when the services were
over there was gladness in the hearts
of not only the Methodists but all
the good citizens of Van Vert and
the surrounding country over the
splendid day which had been enjoy
ed by all.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

old church the following pastors
served:
Mr.. Talmage, 1856.
George P. Bennett.
]. w. Anderson, --1S66.
j. NJ. Baker, 1S66-7O.
W. S. Hooker, 1S7O-73.
c. A. Gates, 1854.
w. II. Witter, 1874-75.
JesT-Hughes, 1S75-76-.. .s..s.-- ~
A. Hancox, 1S76-77.
G. H. Burleigh, 1879.
w. Britton, 1S79-SU.
D. o. Stuart, 1SS0-S2.
w. w. Banner, 1929.
c. Hover, 1SS3-S4.
l.. P. Newland, 1886.
C. D. Fawsett, 1861.
E. E. Wiley, 1898.
Through the foresight of Rev.
Seth Samson the present site was
secured a number of years ago, cost
ing at that time only $50, and in
1888 new frame church was erect
ed which was dedicated Nov. II,
1888 by Presiding Elder w. c. Mar
tin, the total cost of the church in
Guiding the lots being $1719.25. This
building served the needs of the con-
gregation for twenty-six years and
the following list of pastors served
in this old church:
E. E. Wiley, 1888.
w. S. Wood, 1889-90.
Wallace Dunn, 1890-91.
E. B. Heaton, 1925.
w. G.. Smith, lS93-94.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26
Something About the New Church.

The Van Vert Methodist church
was organized in the year 1856, but
for some time previous to this SER
vices had been held in town by minis
ters Of various denominations who
CHANGED to come that way. At that
time Van Vert was called Prairie
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

church with fine piano.
The Junior League was organized
in September, 1913, with Mrs. Keast
superintendent, and the membg -,
has grown from eight at thy a. p
| meeting until now there is an wv
ment of over fifty.
The Ladies' Aid Society is,
eryone knows, composed of tEll De
dies of the church, and the, Aen &c
regular monthly social meetil, ~ ms
the homes of their members. They
do the real work Of the church, and
have made large donations to the
building fund.
The Woman's Foreign Missionary
Society has a membership of eigh-
teen and contributed 500. last year
for the support of missionaries. The
society was organized in 1884 and
Mrs. Mary Hampton is president.
The Standard Bearers is the young
ladies missionary organization which
meets monthly with Miss Keller as
president, being carefully mothered
by the president of the w. F. M. S.
Rev. Martin n. keast, the pastor
and his estimable wife, are in great.
measure responsible for the splen-
did record made by the Van Vert
church and the various church organ
izations, for they are real workers,
and although young, they are popular
with both the old and young folks.
Since they went to the Van Vert
charge the church has been up and
doing, and the new church is one of
his greatest efforts In addition to
having charge of the Van Vert pas
to1ate Rev. Keast is also pastor of
the Fairview NJ. E. church, six miles
north of Leon, and extensive repairs
were recently completed on this
church also.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-26

Mart1n II. KeaSt, IyI3--".
About three years ago the church
realized that they must have more
room, and the matter of remodeling
the old church was discussed, but
il would require hundred of dollars
to do this, and on the other hand It
would require thousands to erect a
rev church. By August, 1912, the
talk OF new church had aroused
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
Found a Thirty-Foot Python in the
Bath Tub.

elry, or mayhap do other damage. AS
two or three smoke bombs that could
be carried in a handbag would create
a more serviceable panic and help the
hurlers to getaway after accom-
plishing their dark, nefarious project
the explanation does not make a hit
Why should the blackmailer or thief
follow the English couple for two or
three years to get their jewels, which
are said to be worth 100000? That
has not been explained to a waiting
world High-class crooks are notori-
ously patient, but to lug a 30-foot
snake from one end of Europe to an
other for those many months in the
hope of soaring one Englishman and
his better half into fit in a hotel
full of folks some time when the op
portunity offered, transfers the prob,
lem from the reptilian to the nam
malian and makes it a horse on the
Investigators.
Experts say that carefully starved
python is a bad citizen and would un.
UOuDl6uIy dIICCh StIl yOIlC II NdS
''sicked on" provided it did not do
the far more probable stunt of squash
ing the life out Of the person who did
the "sicking" Also, to make it GO
where it is pointed, it is necessary to
cover the python's head with a bag
and tap it with a stick, and it's prog
ress would make a noise like q Mis-
sissippi steamboat jamming its sway
over a mud bar. Thieves stealthily
opening the Englishman's bedroom
door in the stilly watches of the night
and persuading a blindfolded snake to
enter and give him lethal hug would
have to figure on all the guests and
employees being deaf, dumb and blind.
Maybe it was because it was difficult
to come upon those ideal conditions
that the alleged crooks followed Mr..
and Mrs Englishman for such an un-
reasonable space of time.
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
LIVED IN THREE CENTURIES
Henry Dorman, 115, Is "Baby" to His
7o-Year-Old Daughter-n-
Law.

Rome, n. 70. S. Dorman of this
city, aged ninety-nine, one of the old
est active men in the state, is planning
to go to Liberty, Mo-, to visit his cous
in, Henry Dorman, aged one hundred
and fifteen said to the oldest mar
in the United States. Mr.. Dorman OF
this city, who enjoys excellent health,
says there is no reason why he cannot
easily make the trip and return with
out lesseninS his physical ability.
Mr. Dorman of Missouri has been
bedridden for five years at the home
of his daughter-in-law, Mrs. Hattie
Dorman, aged seventy. For five years
he has been fed with spoon twice
day and has been washed and
bathed by his daughter-in-law, who
calls him her baby. But the baby must
have a semi-weekly shave.
A spark Of life in a worn-out bodyI
dim, inert eyes, mumbling, toothless
jaws; an uncut shock of wispy white
hair struggling over a bulging fore
head, scared with cross-furrows; deep
OEI CJ CO. q IlSCh InIIuII6ly WIluhlSu
and drawn over gnarled muscles-such
is Henry Dorman as he peers from
over the edge Of a checked quilt. Ac-
cording to the family Bible he was
born January 10, 1899, in Steuben
county, New York. The first half cen
tury of his life was spent in New York
state. His age is further authenti-
Gated by the papers recording his en-
listment in the Seventh Michigan cav
airy Born almost a year before the
death Of George Washington, he has
accordingly lived in three centuries,
and is perhaps the only man alive In
this country-or perhaps elsewhere
who can authenticate that claim.
He was born in the administration
of John Adams and was a grown youth
when Napoleon was defeated at Wa.
terloo
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
FINDS 4 BIG SNAKE
IN NUENCHNER TUB
Then the Police Suspected &
BIaCkmaiI Plot, but Maybe
It's Only a Hoax.
SNAKE TAKEN TO 200
Mystery of German Town, English
man and Russian; Sherlock
HoIme. Tange-some Angles to
Inquiry Are Very interesting.

Munich, Enthusiastically an Eng
lishman and his wife, stopping atzone
Of the big hotels and having, appar-
emily, an abundance of money. struck
an acquaintance with a Scandinavian,
who made a great show of jewelry
and cash. Later arrived a Russian
who registered under the name of
Frankly, and who became chummy
with the other three The English
man went to the police with a story
that the Russian was a man who had
been on his trail for two or three
years, trying to rob or blackmail him.
That stirred the sleuths and they
gathered in the Scandinavian and the
Russian.
When the Scandinavian apartment
was searched there was found in the
bathtub, neatly coiled, a 30-foot py-
thon, which is a whole heap of
snake, take it from the keepers at
the zoo who lugged him away from
there.
The keepers said the python had
not been fed for many weeks and was
feeble from starvation. Some of the
angles to the inquiry are interesting
for instance:
Why the snake? The profound po-
lice theory is that he was to be turned
loose in the hotel to start panic,
and while the excitement ragged the
alleged villains would steal the jew
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
"I'n Stick That in for Another Play

II OticK nat IN Tor Another Play.'
Ills opponent won all his marbles, and
Mike was at his wits end, until he re
membered his eye.
The thought was an inspiration
The "schoolboy gambler" plucked his
eye from its socket and dropped it il
the ring.
There" he said, "I'll stick that IL
for another play"
The other boy decided that this
was some fun," even if the eye was
not exactly round. He clipped his
knick" and the eye flew out of thf
ring.
Mike went to his studies with one
eye in his head. His teacher, Miss
ROgan, observed his optical singular
ity and made Inquiries
Miss Rogan decided that a gambling
debt is Illegal, and the promise to
pay the wager was not binding. She
compelled the other boy to return the
eye to Mike.
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
STAKES GLASS EYE
IN A "NIBS" GAME
Boy Protests He Must Pay Debt
ct Honor When Teacher
Seeks Recovery.

Joliet, Hl.-This is a story of a
;choolboy, a game of 'nibs' and a
glass eye
Mike is the boys name; the remain
Ter Of his cognomen is Jones. He is
the owner Of a glass eye.
Mike attends the Crossville school
If Joliet, where he tussles with his
asks of the three Rs with more or
.ess diligence. He likes to play
keeps, and he'll go the limit.
In game with a schoolmate, he
showed his disposition to be sport" :"
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
Pauper, Left 5000, 900.

New York-Althoug living In ap.
parent extreme poverty on the Bow
cry for 80 years, barely escaping bur.
ial In a pauper's grave, Dudley Jar.
dine left an estate valued at over two
hundred thousand dollars.
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
IMPORTANT DISTINCTION,

"Mr. Bliggins talks a great deal
about his family pride"
"Yes," replied Miss Cayenne;
"only he is content to feel proud Of
his family without considering
whether his family has reason to be
proud Of him"
The Winslow mail., 1914-08-22
Honesty Costs Ninht in Jail.

Portland, Ore.-Honesty cost Mar
tin Dies a night in Jail Finding a
package lost by the American Express
company, he took it to the police sta
ton, where he was held charged with
drunkenness.