davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Just Missed Hitting Train.

There came very near being a
bad auto accident at the foot OF
west Commercial street last We'd
nesday evening, and the occupants
of the auto had the scare of their
lives. Loren Tullis, of Decatur, was
starting home in his Studebaker,
the other occupants being Miss Ona
Riley, w. H. Golfer and Harry
Graves of Decatur, and Ray Tenney,
of Leon. He dropped over the top
of the hill at pretty fair pace,
and saw there was a long freight
train passing over the crossing, and
a second later discovered he had no
nero brakes than a rabbit, and
there was no chance for the freight
train to get out of the way. Golfer,
Graves and Tenney jumped out OF
the auto before the bottom of the
hill was reached, but Miss Riley
and Loren Tullis stuck to the auto,
and just few feet this side OF the
track Loren turned the car out
across the sidewalk, where there
was Just room for the car to pass
between telephone pole and big
fence post, and ran down along the
right of way, and the only damage
was the breaking of an axle on his
car. However he'll see that his
brakes are working before APPROACH
ing a railroad track after this.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Jefferson Highway Socialibity Run
Reaches Leon Friday, July 18th.

The big sociability auto run over
the Jefferson Highway from New Or
leans, Louisiana, to Winnipeg, start
ed from New Orleans Tuesday morn
ing at $3.50 o'clock. Governor Pleas
ant of Louisiana, and Mayor Martin
Behrman, of New Orleans, will make
the entire trip to Winnipeg, and gov
ernors of other states will travel a
part of the way. 1t is being arrang-
ed for Governor Harding of Iowa to
meet the party at the Missouri-lowa
state line, two miles south of La
moni on the afternoon of Friday,
July 18th. The party are scheduled
to arrive at Leon on Friday, July
11th about o'clock; and Leon has
been selected as a night stop, the
party remaining here until Saturday
morning. A committee from the
Leon Chamber OF Commerce has
been named to make arrangements
for their reception in Leon, and a
dinner will be served the distinguish
ed visitors and the Chamber of Com
merce members at o'clock, after
which a big public meeting will be
held in the court house park, at
which speeches will be made by the
visitors. AS on previous runs many
autos will join the party enroute and
a number of local cars will go to the
state line and escort the party to
this citV
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS Ago
items Taken from the Files of The
Reporter Published Z Quarter
Of a Century Ago.

William B. Fitch and Miss Min.
ME Evans were married at the. H..
e. parsonage Wednesday evening
the ceremony being performed by
Rev. Geo. Nj. Hughes.
L. VanWerden, G.. w. Young
Fred Layton, Ira Wallace and Q; E
wheels to attend the bali game.
Little Jasper Carr, son Of Mrs.
Mary Carr, was kicked in the face
by a horse tied in Shield Bros liv-
cry barn yesterday, and DR.. Layton
had to take several stitches in clos
ing the wound.
The first issue of the Lamont
Chronicle, the new paper started at
Lamont by w. H. Dean, was issued
Taylor's circus stranded at Beth
any, Mo-, last Saturday and most OF
the performers passed through Leon
Monday returning to their homes.
The circus has been having hard
luck all summer, losing money
right along. Senator Harsh, of
Creston, had a mortgage on the
property for $4,000, and Mr.: Taylor
The bicycle path to the fair
Completion. Marion Woodland has
charge of the work and an agent
for a road grader is doing the grad
ing with his machine.
Karl Parrish and jamie Harvey
started Monday AFTERNOON to ride h to
They go via Winterset, Adel, Ft.
arrive at the lake on Saturday.
At the oratorical contest of the
Decatur County Normal held at the
M. E. church Friday evening, J. D.
Cummins won first prize, his sub
ject being Carthage Must be Des-
troyed," and Miss Carrie Hoffman
won second place with "Woman's
Mrs. Ira B. Ryan died on June
2Sth at the advanced age of SO
years, 10 months and days.
Leon defeated Osceola in the ball
game at Leon on July 4th, the score
being 20 to 4. Jim Hurst and
Ralph Sigler were the battery for
Leon.
Frank Sales and his mother came
up from St.. Joe Saturday to visit
old friends in this vicinity.
Joe Pritchard and wife, of Gosh
en-, Mo-, are in the city visiting at
the home Of her parents, Capt. and
Mrs. J. A. Ray.
Mrs. Gus Blomburg, OF Ottumwa,
came Monday for visit with her
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Jacob Hell
sher.
Mr.. j. v. Arney and Miss Susie
Woodmansee accompanied by Air.
J. T. Harris and Miss Mollie Wood
mansee went to Des NIoines last
Thursday evening where they were
united in marriage by Rev. Holmes,
ex-president of Simpson College, a
former instructor of the groom.
Mr.. and Mrs. Arney are spending
their honeymoon with friends at
Indianola and Stuart, Iowa.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Smashed Plate Glass.

Friday was an off day at the j.
W. Hurst & co. store. They. were
putting in big plate glass in the
south window of the store to re-
place broken one when the rain
storm came up, and the wind blew
a metal display frame from the top
of the show window down on one
of the plate glass show cases,
smashing the top C. E. Hurst
stepped out the back door to look
how the weather was, and sec
ond display frame blew off, and Of
course could not strike the broken
show case, but went over it and
broke the plate glass top of the
second show case. The tops for the
two show cases will cost between
forty and fifty dollars, but c. r. is
congratulating himself on getting
the big window in without breaking
it, although he lost ten dollar bet
to Phil Kopp, who guaranteed to
cut of six inches of the big window
without breaking it, and he did the
JOB successfully, although they say
til the job was done.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Merritt Reynolds Had Leg Ampu-
tated.

Merritt Reynolds, of Leon, who
has been a great sufferer from ne
crosis of the bones in his ankle,
following an injury received num-
Der Of years ago. underwent anoth.
er' operation at the Leon hospital
last Wednesday, his leg being ampu-
tated below the knee. Merritt had
been operated upon several times
for this injury, the last time at Ro-
chester, Minn., a few months ago
by Drs. Mayo, who advised him to
have his leg amputated, and it is
sincerely hoped that this operation
will afford him relief from his suf,
fering,
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
An Appeal to the Pride of the Citi-
Zens of Leon.

Do yon notice that Leon is i'm:
ter town in which to live? Have
you noticed the improved condition
of the streets since we bought the
tractor? Do not forget that we
have bought the very pest , tire re
in a few days. Drinking fountains
to be cooled by ice are being install
ed on the principal corners in the
business section. The New York
lawn mower arrived today for use in
the cemetery The. Phs water hsna tank ner
fected for As blocks of paving. The
court house is being re-decorated
adorned with shrubbery by the Civic
Club. A new filling station and rest
room is being erected by the Col
Inns Oil Co. One of our wealthy
citizens has generously offered a
site for a coliseum free of charge.
Two factories have offered to locate
here if small inducements are held
out to them. The, Aaron packing
house is now no v q doubling o., their build, Id
plant is nearly ready to begin opera
tions. Grounds have been bought on
which to locate the county. fair.
The Fourth of July will be celebrat-
ed as never before. Now people we
must clean up Cut all the weeds
and tall grass around your homes.
weeds; when they come to your
place let them help you clean up:
Inspect every place where flies could
breed. Inrun your toilets or better
still, connect with the sewers, this
will help very much to conserve the
health of our people. Do your part
of. We must insist that you clean
up. For 81 or less you can have
your weeds cut. For. trivial sum
you can connect with tithe sewer
Leon has 13 miles of sanitary sew
er which brings this great convent
ence within the reach Of all. Let
clean up be the order of the day.
The city will do it's part-we insist
that you clean up.
J.. M, Gardner, Mayor
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Here's a World Wide Record.

While attending the funeral of
Clarence Townsend at Decatur last
Sunday afternoon, by chance it de-
veloped that all of the members Of
the graduating class of the Leon
High School of 1879, were present,
and all in uniform with the Knights
Templar who acted as an escort at
the funeral. The class of 10 was
unusual in the fact that it consist
ed of four members, all of them
boys, not girl in the class, for in
that a boy graduated, it usually be-
ing the girls who finished High
School. And all four of the gradu-
ates have continued to reside at
Leon, and strange to say all four
of them are members of the Ma
sonic lodge, the r. A. NJ, o. E. S.
and Knights Templar. It is a rec
ord of which the members may we'll
feel proud.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Ice Plant Waiting for Erector.

The Leon Ice Co. have been burn
ing up the wires the past week try.
ing to get the Baker Ice Co., of
Omaha, to send their erector TO Leon
to install the ice machinery which
arrived the first of last week. They
promised to have the man here last
week, but he did not arrive. Mon
day afternoon when phoned to they
said he would arrive in Leon Mon
day evening. He had not shown up
at the time The Reporter went to
press yesterday noon, but was ex-
pected on every train. The expert
erector from the Fairbanks, Morse
& Co. plant arrived yesterday morn
ing and has force of men at work
getting the big 50 horse power oil
burning engine ready to start, and
everybody is hoping the ice machine
expert will come pretty soon, for
Leon is practically out of ice and
many town around are clamorlng
for ice.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
IN TWO AUTO CRASHES
B. E. Woodard Victim Of Two Auto
Accidents Within five Days.
Mrs. A. f. Kemp Injured.

Bert Woodard was In q pretty
bad auto collision, ct a bad turn IN
the road on the White Star trail 9
short distance south 0 Probe ole Mrs las
Woodland were :, driving to Des
Moines in their National and at the
point where the collision occurred
there is bad turn, the weeds being
permitted to grow up so as to ob.
scure the road. Just as Bert made
the turn he saw another car head
ed straight towards him, coming
south, and the distance was too
short for collision to be, avoided
Neither Mr., or Mrs. Woodard We're
injured, and the driver of the OILS
mobile, a Mr.. Snyder, of Norwalk,
also escaped injury, although botn
cars were badly damaged, being
locked together, and it took more
than an hour to get the cars apart.
Mr.. Woodard went on to Des
Moines and got truck to come out
after his car and take it to- Des De
ed home on the train
It is seldom man has two auto
accidents in the space of five days,
but that is what happened to Bert
Woodard the past week. On Mon
day he drove to the depot in the
Buick owned by his brother, Marion
Woodard, to meet Mr.. and Mrs. A.
F. Kemp, of Des Moines, who were
coming to Leon to visit their daugh-
ter, Mrs. Bert Woodard. Mr.. Wood
ard was coming up Main street,
driving quite slow, and when just
south of the Biddison Coal & Grain
Co.'S office, he crashed into Ford
driven by John Wood, of near Le-
roy. Mr.. Wood was going south
and both cars were on the proper
side of the street, and Mr.. Wood
claims he gave the signal he was
turning into the driveway at the
Biddison warehouse, while Mr..
Woodard says he did not see any
signal and had no idea Mr.. Wood
was going to turn in; The car of
wheels Of the Ford, smashing two
wheels, and demolishing the fender,
while the Buick was only slightly
damaged. Mrs. Kemp was riding in
the rear seat, and the shock OF the
collision threw her clear out of the
car, and she struck on the back of
her head on the pavement, cutting
a cash in her scalp about two and
a half inches long, and rendering
her unconscious for short time.
She was carried across the street to
the home of G. M. Ketcham. and DR.:
Robinson gave her medical attention
and she was able to be taken to the
Woodard home that afternoon, and
is now able to be up, but the shock
was a severe one to her as she has
been in poor health.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Over Ninety Years of Age.

The names of residents of Decatur
county who are over ninety years
of age, are not coming in very fast,
but we hope after we get the list
name is sent in to us. It will be a
list to be proud of, and we ask all
our friends to assist us in compiling
1t. So far but two names have come
in, but we hope to add quite num-
ber next week:
Here is the list reported:
Solon Bevins, Eden township,
born Dec. IA, 1928.
Mrs. S. NJ. Buffum, Garden Grove,
born March %, 1929.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Baby Picture Contest.

A few weeks ago Cherrington an
nounced a baby picture contest, Of
fering a gold ring for the prettiest
baby picture and IS in gold to the
person who took the picture, and
what collection of baby pictures he
secured, Sc babies being entered in
man, daughter of Mr., and Mrs. F. 6.
Coleman of Leon, being awarded the
gold ring, and the IS prize goes to
Mrs. Coleman who took the picture.
The pictures were judged by C. w.
Blaney and R. G. Swanson, two
travelling statesmen who were not ac-
quainted with any of the contestants,
and they had very hard time in
making a decision, as there were SO
many good looking babies to be con-
sidered. but they finally agreed on
little Miss Coleman.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Bought WOOdlard Farm for Fair
Grounds.

The directors of the Decatur
county fair association last Saturday
closed the deal for the purchase OF
the Bert Woodard farm Of 160 acres
just north of Leon, $3.50 an acre,
the tract costing $36,SOo. This is
the place where the fair grounds
were located twenty-five years ago,
and there is an ideal location for q
half mile race track. Possession of
the farm will be given March 1st,
and buildings will be erected next
year in time to have big fair next
fall. The directors may decide to
sell off the east eighty acres of the
tract, if they decide that eighty
acres are enough for fair ground
purposes. When Mr.. Woodard pur-
chased this land about twenty years
ago, he paid $50 an acre for it..
A meeting of the directors of the
fair association has been called to
meet at C.. NJ. Axes office in Leon
at 4 O'Clock on Friday, afternoon,
it will take only a few minutes to
get through with the business and
every director is urged to be on
hand promptly at o'clock. z
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
v. r. McGinnis Brought Home

Mr.. v. r. McGinnis, who has been
dangerously i'll at Mt. Ayr for more
than month, was able to be brought
to Leon last Saturday, DR.. Eiker
him to Leon. Mr.. McGinnis is now
comfortably resting at his room at
the Central Hotel, and it is thought
he will get along fine now, and will
soon be able to take up his business
affairs, although at present he is not
permitted to see visitors. During
his long illness at Mt. Ayr his case
was in charge of DR.. M. F. Hannelly,
to his skill is probably due his re-
covery from what appeared to be a
fatal illness. Mr.. McGinnis' friends
all over the county will be nightly
pleased to hear of his improvement.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Clarence Townsend Died Friday
Evening.

The entire county was shocked
Friday evening when it became
known that Clarence B. Townsend
of Decatur, was dead. Mr.. Town.
send had been in Leon the first sO1
the week; and but few people knew
abcess developed in his head, and
on Friday morning he was operated
upon by DR.. Graham, specialist
from Ottumwa, but he continued tc
fail and passed away that evening
at 6 o'clock.
Clarence Burrows Townsend, son
of Ernest w. and Martha P. Town.
send, was born in Milo, Warren
comfy, Iowa, fa;, October 2s ,ffS79 and nd
home in Decatur, Iowa, in the even.
ing of June 27, 1919, at the age OF
397 years, months and 29 days.
When boy of seven years he
moved with his parents from theit
former home in Warren county to
Decatur, Iowa, which has been his
home from the age of seven until he
passed to the great beyond. On
February 4, 1901, he was united in
Decatur, Iowa, who lives to mourn
the loss of her companion and to
cherish the memory of the thought
full consideration and kind attention.
In addition to his faithful wife, he
leaves to mourn his early decase
his beloved mother, Mrs Martha P.
Townsend of Decatur, Iowa; his two
brothers, Fred W., of Leon, Iowa,
and Bruce, of Decatur, Iowa, and
son, of Des Moines, Iowa; Mrs. Sarah
Walker, of Decatur, Iowa, and Mrs.
Carrie Paul, of Osceola, Iowa, his
father having passed from this life
a short time since. Clarence as he
was Familiarity called and known,
was raised to manhod in Decatur
and has always been prominent
figure in the social, fraternal and
business life of his community. His
goodness of heart won and held for
him a host of social friends and ac-
quaintances. His sterling honesty
and careful attention to business de-
tails in any and all financial affairs
with which he was connected was
highly commendable and he proved
himself worthy of any trust repOsed
in him. He was prominent in Ma
sonic circles and at different times
siding officer with credit to himself
and honor to the fraternity. He
was also loyal member of Leon
Chapter of Royal Arch Masons and
Tripolis Commentary Knights Temp
lar of Leon, Iowa; Kaaba Temple
Mobiles of the Mystic Shrine Of Dav-
export, Iowa. Although he was
not a member of any church, he was
a firm believer in the christian
faith and his close adherence to the
principles of the Fatherhood of
God and the brotherhood of man
were the most earnest indications
of hiS sincerity and we confidently
leaTa his future in the hands Of the
Almighty Father in the firm belief
that all is we'll.
Funeral services were held at the
NJ. E. church in Decatur, Sunday af-
ternoon at $3.50, an immense con-
course gathering to pay their re-
spects to the deceased, as he was a
general favorite with everyone. The
sermon was by Rev. Kenton, pastor
CT the Decatur M. E. church, the
Masonic lodge having charge Of tlt
services at the grave, the Knights
TemDlar lodge Of Leon. of which
Mr.. Townsend was member, acting
as an escort. The church was filled
TO overflow. several hundred people
being unable to- gain admittance
The floral offerings were many and
hoo f,,1
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Throw Open Your Lawns on July 4th.

There is going to be tremendous
crowd In Leon tomorrow at the big
county vide celebration, and every
citizen of Leon is requested to ar
range to help care for the comfort
Of the thousands Of visitors who will
throw open their lawns, set out a
few chairs or benches, and let the
people who visit Leon feel at home,
and have a comfortable place to rest
and eat their basket dinners. Cards
have been printed to be placed on
all lawns where people are welcome,
and the Boy Scouts have agreed to
zee that these signs ar placed. The
Tor permission to put up the well
come sign, and we hope that no per-
1on will refuse.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
NJ. F. Springer Sells Farm at $165.

M. F. Springer on Monday sold
his home place of 244 acres five
miles northwest of Leon, to W. G.
Culbertson, of Derby, at $165 per
care, cash deal, possession to be
given March 1st. The sale was ne
gotiated by Boyd Meter, of Weldon,
priced his farm at $50 an acre.
While he has sold the home place
Mr.. Springer still has 400 acres OF
land left, which he expects to turn
over to his boys, and he will have
big sale this fall and retire from
active work. Mike bought 100
acres of this land in 1895 at $25
per acre, and later added a second
and the increase has netted him q
neat fortune
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
AT THE THEATRES.
Programs for the Idle Hour and
New Theatres This Week.

At the Idle Hour Thursday, Julv'
3rd, Vivian Martin in ":You Never.
Saw Such a Girl" and Fatty Ar
buckle in The Desert Hero.'
At the Idle Hour Friday, July 4th.
Geraldine Farrar in Shadows" and
Star Comedy.
At the Idle Hour Saturday, July
5th, Geraldine Farrar in Shadows"
and Bray Photograph.
At the New Theatre, Thursday and
Friday, July 3rd and 4th, the great
special feature play. Mack Sennett,s
masterpiece, Mickey starring Ma
bel Normand.
At the New Theatre Saturday.
July 5th, Shirley Mason in ''The
Rescuing Angel and Strand COM
edy.
At the Idle Hour Sunday, July
9Th, Pauline Frederick in "Out of
the Shadow" and Lyons-Moran COM
edy.
The program for the first three
days of next week, has not been re-
ceived, but it will be up to the usual
high standard
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Passing the Buck to the Poor Old
Business Men.

LET the business men. do it, is
said in country towns when anyth-
ing comes up that should be attend
ed to. The same cry is heard in the
cities and in the nation. The sup
position seems to be that business
unlawful, steadily-profitably monop--
oily, and always have great sums OF
money that should be taken from
them by law. Whereas the facts are
that large majority of the bust
ness men are compelled to struggle
are constantly. confronted with
strong competition. The bulk of
workmen who have graduated from
small business, and who hope to
gradually accumulate something. for
the necessities of old age, incident
ally supporting families, educating
several communities. When the
term business men is used, it is
rolled off with a generous sugges-
ton of duties which only men like
Armour, Swift, Rockefeller, and men
of that class could perform. We
ness men are poor, compelled to
work hard, and save and. struggle.
There are millions of business men
working tremendously long hours;
hours so long that we say they are
slave-drivers Of their women and
children. There are millions -
other business men heavily in dcbt
and struggling to get out. These
want better conditions, as do ne
working men. They cannot put Oh
extra men when they have no or
ders; they cannot increase wages to
oblige the literary gents who have
good hearts but no money. Busi-
ir,Cr oil
out ambition is to nag and annoy
them at every possible turn.-E. w.
HOWe's Monthly.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Leon 4, Charlton 3.

The Leon ball team defeated the
fast Charlton team in a hard fought
game at Axes ball park last Sunday
afternoon, by the close score of to
3. Fusan and Butcher were the
battery for Leon and Marnell and
Lewis for Charlton. Will Crawford
umpired the game, and there was a
big crowd of fans out to see the
The following is the score:
Chariton-O v 90 0 90 2 1-3.
Leon 100 o o 1 6-4.
The Leon team plays Osceola at
Axes ball park next Sunday after
noon, July 9Th. These will be the
same teams which played a fourteen
inning, to 3 game at Osceola q
week ago last Sunday, won by Leon.
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Two Good Farms Sold.

Loren ". Tullis, of Decatur, 10
agent. He has recently sold two
good farms, the Marion Dingman
farm of 229 acres near Decatur to
Covington & Golfer at $115 per acre,
and the w. G.. Vesper farm, three
miles west of Leon containing 228
acres to Covington & Golfer at $136
Def acre
The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-03
Violin Pupils Wanted.

l have a few hours spare time to
teach violin. l will come to the
house if not to far out, otherwise,
pupils can come to my residence,
northwest of school house. Terms,
fifty cents per lesson; will also keep
on hand violin accessories. l will
also repair bones and adjust violins;
have had factory experience at this
your violin if it is not giving salts
faction. 1 also need Eore Joys for
the band. l can get you an instru-
ment at rock bottom, either new or
secondhand. Let's get down to bust-
ness after the 4th.
Ola T. Thompson.