The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1922-11-07
IMPRESSIONS OF OLD GAAR HOMESTEAD TOLD
BY kOK0MO WRITER IN PICTURESQUE MANNER

For then, as now, It was not all easy
sailing in the mechanical world-not
even after ascending the ladder to the
place of president of manufacturing
establishment
Picture of Brothers
Upstairs in the old home is a pic
ture of the four brothers who fought
the fight" in the early days of the
threshing machinery company ;~Abram
was the pattern maker, two of the
brothers machipists and one a black
smith.
None of them are here now to re-
late the story of the trials of those
early days in Indiana. But others of
the family remember some of the
stories told them.
Out in the big hall of the old home
it was of interest to have a son open
his fathers desk, show how carefully
he kept books, keeping strict account
of all family expenses, listing the
board for both his sons, and their
horses when they drove to town to
school
A little white safe bearing mothers
name-Agnes Gaar-stood near the
old desk, and is treasured as family
keep sake.
A newspaper, "The Western TiHer."
bearing the date of Jan. IL, 1928, pub
lished in Cincinnati by j. W.Gazley,
was of interest
Wonder Why Preserved.
One wondered if it had been pre-
served because of the long article
about phrenology, which seemed 10
be something new, or for some politi.
cal fuss over John Quincy Adams, or
| The harbarities of the franciscan
Friars some one had witnessed in
1924 or the notes from Gibraltar.
The bill of furniture was in the old
desk too, showing the lovely old fur
niture had been bought in 1877.
The beautiful handsomely carved
black walnut table in the parlor with
| its inlaid top had been exhibited at the
Centennial in Philadelphia. The tor
almost reflected the handsome vases
thereon, even as the big mirrors re
Elected, in the different rooms, the
crystal fringed chandeliers, also sew
eral varieties of the famed Hill roses
1t was interesting to have the Hills
inquire about W. W. Coles who has
been a friendly rival for years and also
about Tom Knipe who took his early
day training in the Hill Floral train
ing school.
Leaves Fine impression.
One came away from the fine ole
home on the hill crest remembering
the big rooms, the fine old furniture
| with here and there a touch of modern
times, as one remembered the victrols
music, the tea wagon, the later day
silver and china in rivalry with older
time handsome black walnut furniture
and woodwork And other rooms
boasting white walnut woodwork anC
one, birds eye maple, trimmed witt
mahogany.
One remembered that a deer head
kept watch in the dining room ant
also in the upper hall and big glas:
case of birds and other samples of the
fine work done by Dan Johnson, the
leading taxidermist OF. long ago times
who mounted a great deal of work fol
Peter Merkel, who had charge of al
the restaurants between st. Louis anC
Pittsburgh on the Pennsylvania lines
Also that there were two big cases o
curios gathered while the older foil
travelled back to the 70's, which NJ
one had handled since the dear ole
couple have stepped away.
Hospitality Remembered
But best of all one came away re
membering the gracious hospitalit!
still in evidence in the fine old home
And somehow one remembered tina
the pioneer fold seemed to instill /;
reverence for themselves and home IL
the lives of their children.
And today this is evident when yol
talk to the son, oliver, who lives a re
tired life in mis- handsome home near tn
heart of Richmond, also when you tall
to Glen in his beautiful home not ia,
from the greenhouses, when one talk
to the son, Sam, who knows our Johl
Jay of the Howard National bank ant
who could assist Mr.. Jay in a write-ul
of the ups and downs of the banking
business. This son, too, in his hand
some home near the Leeds and bud
ley Foulke homes would admit tina
the old home out on the Interest stoot
: for all that we mean when we talk o
better homes.
l