davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Births

The following births at Bluffton
Community hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Phares Bixel, Co
lumbus Grove, a son, Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Waldo Hanna, Mt.
Cory, a daughter, Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Wilbert Pummel,
Lafayette, son, Sunday.
Word has been received here of
the birth of son to Mr.. and Mrs.
Harold Shappell of Tiffin. Mrs.
ShappeIl was formerly Miss Edith
Kramer of this place.
Announcement of the birth of
son to Mr.. and Mrs. John Backensto
of Woodstock, H., has been received
here. Mrs. Backensto was formerly
Miss Lavaun Kohl, daughter of Mr..
and Mrs. A. e. Kohl of West Col
lege avenue.
A daughter, Catherine Ann, was
born to Rev. and Mrs. r. F. Larsen
at Barboursyille, KY, on Christmas
day. Mrs. Larsen was formerly
Miss Catherine Kliewer, daughter of
Rev. and Mrs. P. A. Kliewer of
Grove street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Hold All Day Farm,
Machinery ShOlO Here

An all-day demonstration of farm
machinery and equipment will be
held here on Wednesday of next
week sponsored by the Bluffton I'm
plement & Harness company. All
farmers of this vicinity are invited
to attend.
The morning program will be at
the company's store consisting of
talks on farm topics by manufac-
turer's representatives with special
attention being given to modern
power farming.
Following a luncheon at the noon
hour an afternoon program of mo-
ton pictures will be held at the high
school auditorium.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
With The Sick

Jesse Hummon of Union township
who suffered a badly mangled left
forearm when it caught in corn
shredder a week ago continues a pa
tient in the Community hospital.
Mrs. Chester Huber, i'll as a re-
suit of paralytic stroke, is conval-
escing at the Community hospital.
Albert Vermillion is i'll at his
home in Orange township.
Samuel Fett is seriously i'll at the
home of his brother, VIM. Fett of
near Beaverdam following para
lytic stroke.
Mrs. G. T. Soldner who has been
seriously i'll at her home on Cherry
street following stroke several
weeks ago is improving.
Mrs. Bertha Rhoda, formerly OF
this place, suffered fractured left
hip as the result of a fall on the
street near her home in Lima, Mon.
day.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Last Rites Held
For s. H. Peterson

Funeral services for Samuel Henry
Peterson, 81, native of Union town
ship were held at Pleasant View
church, Sunday afternoon with Rev.
Hilliard Camp of Rawson officiating.
Interment was made in the Clymer
cemetery.
Mr.. Peterson died Friday morning
in the Findlay hospital following a
stroke several days previous.
He was born in Union township
Feb. 81, 1857 and lived all his life
in the vicinity of Mt. Cory. His
wife, Mary Jane Hammond Peterson
preceded him in death eighteen
years ago.
Surviving are four daughters and
four sons. They are Mrs. A. C
Hiestand, Rawson; Pearl Peterson
Bluffton; Everett Peterson, Mt. Cory
Hazel Jane Peterson at home; Glenr
Peterson, Mrs. Carl Alexander ant
Mrs. Geo. Inebnit, Findlay, ant
Arthur Peterson at home.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
War Demand Creates Market For
Farmers Worn Out Wire Fence

Top price for scrap wire now is
about SIT per gross ton of 2,240
pounds in bales, However, by the
time trucking and processing costs
are paid there is said to be little
profit.
Bidding by Japan and European
countries for scrap iron, as the re-
suit of wars raging in both contin-
ents, started the market upward last
August.
A peak of s21 per ton for the best
grade was reached early in the fall,
but embargoes and shipping hazards
at sea brought break in the price
in November. The price has fallen
off nearly 81 ton since then, with
the quotation of SIT prevailing gen.
erally now.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28

Demand for war materials has
brought about the salvaging of worm
out wire fence from farms of this
area, and almost every day trucks
piled high with rolls of wire can be
seen passing thru Bluffton.
Salvaging worn-out fence provides
a new source of income for farmers,
and it is the first time since world
war days that the scrap material
has had market value.
Trucks carrying the rolls of wire
thru Blutfton are bound for Mans
field, Columbus and other Ohio cities
where the wire is baled in bundles
similar to hay or scrap paper. In
this form it is trucked to steel mills
for reclamation.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Phyllis Steiner End
In OratOricdL Meet

Phyllis Steiner, Bluffton High
school senior, was second prize WIN
ner last week in an oratorical con-
test held in the Beaverdam high aud
itorium under auspices of the Allen
county department of health.
Norman Norman, of SpencerviIle,
placed first in the meet, with Miss
Steiner a close second.
Eight Allen county high school
seniors competed for the honors.
They were winners in recent essay
contest on Tuberculosis" Follow
ing the contest motion picture,
"Let Our People Live" was shown.
Dr. Gail E. Miller, county health
commissioner, arranged the contest
and the program.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Funeral For Mrs. VIM.
Hartman Xmas Day

Funeral services for Mrs. VIM.
Hartman, resident of Orange town
ship were held at Bethel Church of
Christ southeast of Bluffton, Mon
day afternoon. Officiating at the
service was Rev. L. B. Remaley,
pastor of the church, assisted by
Rev. A. E. Mcvey of Mt. Cory.
Mrs. Hartman died at her home
near Bluffton, Saturday morning fol-
lowing a two weeks illness with
paralysis. She was aged II years,
six months and 16 days. Interment
was in Clymer cemetery.
Mr.. and Mrs. Hartman, pioneer
residents of Orange township, cele-
brated their fifty-ffth wedding ami
versary last July 13. She was the
daughter of AbsoIom and Rebecca
Wilkins.
Surviving are her husband; six
daughters, Mrs. Stella Clevenger OF
Geneva, Pa; Mrs. Minnie Redick OF
Silver Wood, Mich; Mrs. Goldie
Criblez of Gainesville, Texas; Mrs
Sarah Slusser of Ada; Mrs. Ada
Yoakam of Phillips, Texas, and Mrs
Flossie Henry of Bluffton; also five
sons Purl, William and Archie al
of Bluffton; Wesley of Williams
town and Emanuel of Rawson. Al
the children were here for the fun
eral services.
Four brothers surviving. are Johr
and Ross Wilkins of Bluffton; Ira
Wilkins of Mt. Cory and Lawrence
Wilkins of Rawson. Three sisters
surviving are Mrs. Jesse Mohler
Bluffton; Mrs. Burt Williams, Mt
Cory and Mrs. Della Hartman, Raw
son. Thirty-nine grandchildren ant
IL grandchildren also survive.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Funeral Services
For S. w. Steiner

Funeral services for S. w. Steiner,
we'll known Richland township resi-
dent, were held Saturday afternoon
at the Ebenezer Mennonite church.
Officiating at the services were
Rev. Eli G. Steiner, pastor of the
Defenseless Mennonite church as
sisted by Rev. G. P. Schultz of Chi
cago. Interment was made in the
Defenseless church cemetery.
Mr.. Steiner died last Wednesday
night at his home three miles west
of Bluffton following a two weeks
illness. He was aged seventy-eight
years, six months and twenty-five
days.
He was born May %, 1861, the
third son of Abraham and Marian
Steiner and lived his entire life ir
this community.
For many years he took an active
part in affairs of the township serv-
ing for two terms as member OF
the board of trustees and also 9
member of the school board. He was
also road commissioner for twenty
five years.
In UNCONVENTIONAL affiliations ht
,, was member of the Defenseles!
Mennonite church and consistent sup
porter of the activities of his church
On September 27, 1883, he wal
married to Sarah Neuenschwandel
who survives. The couple observed
their fifty-sixth wedding anniversar!
last September.
Besides his wife he is survived b,
three daughters Mrs. Saliva Maye
and Mrs. Alice Meyer both of MI
Cory and Mrs. Leucile Buhler o
Bluffton and two sons Jesse of To
ledo and Stanton Steiner of Lima.
Also surviving are one brother n
F. Steiner of Bluffton and two sis
ters Mrs. Marian Lugibill of Ora
bill, Ind, and Mrs. L. Rupp o
Bloomington, ILL.,, and fifteen grand
children.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
TOWN TO HAVE
new OFFICIALS
Incoming Administration VIII
Take Over City Affairs
Tuesday Night
Many New Faces to be Seen as
Municipal Officials Start
Term of Office


Bluffton's new municipal admins
tration will take over the reins of
local city government next Tuesday
night. The change will be made of
ficially in the council chamber when
members of the outgoing council will
convene in a brief routine session
and adjourn sine die after which the
incoming council will hold its organ
ization meeting.
The head of the city government
viii be unchanged. w. A. Howe,
former president of the town council
who became mayor by succession last
year when the mayors chair became
vacant. was elected to the position
to serve for the next two years.
Likewise the positions of marshal
and treasurer will continue to be
held by Lee Coon and Samuel Bixel,
incumbents, respectively.
MANY New FACES
Other municipal offices, however,
viii see many new faces as the new
term of office begins. James West,
bookkeeper at the Citizens National
bank elected town clerk will take
over the records kept for the past
two years by Carold Steiner.
Half of the present council win
be replaced by new members. The
new members are: DR.. Munson Bixel,
Cleon Triplett and Ralph Patterson.
They will replace DR.. M. d. Soash,
E. c.. Romey and nj. M. Bogart.
Present council members who will
continue to serve for the next two
years are: Armin Hauenstein, DR..
Evan Basinger and Menno Bader-
fischer.
On the school board Peter Gratz,
veteran member of the board will
retire. Ralph Patterson whose term
on the school board expires will
leave that body for membership on
the council. Their places on the
board will be filled by Waldo Hof.
stetter and Elmer Short.
TwP. TRUSTEES UNCHANGED
Personnel of the Richland town
ship board of trustees remains un-
changed. Allen Grismore the only
member of the board whose term ex-
pires at the close of this year was
reelected as was also N. w. Ba-
singer township clerk-treasurer.
Township constables are K. T.
Griffith and E. c. Heller, the latter
filling the place of Harry Homer.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Yuletide Mail Greatest IN His
tory of Postoffice, Post
master Declares
Record of 39,025 Cancellations
Is Reported; Heaviest
Rush Wednesday

Buttons post office last week
handled a record volume of Christ
mas mail, but early mailing to some
extent eased the rush of making de-
liveries and dispatching outgoing
items for local postal attaches.
With the volume of mail unusually
heavy during the early part of. the
week--even for the Yuletide season
the rush abated gradually, and on
Saturday the amount of mail pass
ing thru the post office approached
normal.
Postmaster Ed R. Reichenbach an
nounced that this years mailing
from Bluffton was the heaviest in
history.
39,025 CANCELLATIONS
During the week, cancellations on
first and third class mail reached a
new record of 39,025. This is con-
siderably higher than last years to-
tai, also new record, when there
were 32,932 cancellations.
Wednesdays mail was the heav-
lest, Postmaster Reichenbach said
On that day there were 10,402 can
cellations. An average days cancel
lations here amounts to from 1900
to 1900.
For the convenience of the public,
Postmaster Reichenbach kept the
post office open last Thursday and
Friday nights. Stamps were sold
to those who wished to send greet
ings or parcel post.
SPECIAL SERVICE
Another special service was the
extra mail delivery on Saturday
afternoon, which meant that letters
and greetings which otherwise woulc
not have been received until Tues
day were in the hands of the per
sons to whom they were addressed
before Christmas had arrived.
On Monday morning, postal em
ployes made a special delivery o.
parcel post packages that arrived il
the mornings mail. In coming mai
on Monday was quite heavy, there
being two large pouches of frs
class items.
This years parcel post business a
the Bluffton post office was abou
the same as last year, Postmaster
Reichenbach said, and the volume o:
incoming packages was about th'
same as usual.
Thruout the heaviest rush, all frs
class mail was cleared from the pos
office on schedule, the postmastel
pointed out. At times, however, tn,
handling of third class mail wa
slightly delayed because of the vol
ume.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
DOWNTOWN REAL
ESTATE is SOLD
Nj. Nj. Bogart Sells Forty Foot
Business Frontage to DR..
Nj. ID. SOash
Property Involved Houses BO-
gart Harness Shop and
Ludwig Shoe Repair

Real estate in Buttons downtown
district changed hands when nj. d
Soash, Bluffton physician, purchased
the M. M. Bogart building and loi
at the south end of the business sec.
tion.
Announcement of the deal was
made the first of the week. The rea
estate involved has a frontage of AZ
feet on South Main street and 9
depth of 165 feet. 1t now house.
Bogart's harness shop and automo
bile agency and the E. c. Ludwig
shoe repair establishment.
Purchase price was not disclosed
however Bogart priced the rea
estate at $4,000 last year when i
was offered to the federal govern
ment as the site for Buttons ney
postoffice building.
No Plans Disclosed
DIR. Soash stated following the pur
chase that he plans no change in thu
real estate in the immediate future
Bogart likewise has made no an
nouncement. Whether purchase O
the real estate will result in build
ing program replacing the presen
frame structure has not been dis
closed.
The real estate is located nea
the site of the new postoffice, groun'
for which has been purchased at tn
corner of South Main and FRANKLIN
streets. A frontage of 1l0 feet ol
South Main street consisting of tn
Edgar Chamberlain and A. ID. Graf
properties was acquired a year ag
by the government at a price o
S9,850. Construction of the post
office is expected to start in tn
spring.
The real estate acquired by Dl
Soash is separated from the post
office corner by the Hub restauran
property owned by Mrs. Clara Geisei
Last year when the government wa
in the market for postoffice sit
this property with a frontage of 2
feet was priced at $4,000.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
War Veteran To
Conduct ReUiUal

Rev. Joe Denton, British World
war veteran, will be in charge of re-
vival services at the Bluffton Mis-
sionary church from Sunday, Dec.
81, to Sunday, Jan. ID, inclusive,
Rev. A. F. Albro, pastor of the
church, announced this week.
During the two-week period Rev.
Denton is here, services will be held
daily at 7:30 p. m, except Saturday.
Prior to his ordination as min
lister, Rev. Denton served as sold
ier for three and one-half years in
India and four and one-half years
in France. Incidents of his travels
and military service, together with
information on conditions in Europe
today, are incorporated in his mes
sages.
Special music will be presented at
the meetings by liner Basinger, Choir
ister, and Mrs. liner Basinger, pian-
ist, both of Pandora.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
To SHIP TURBINE
HERE IN JANUARY
Excavation Started at Light
Plant for Installation
OF Unit
Equipment to be i'm Operation
By Spring will Show
Saving, Claim

Purchase of 750 X. w. turbo-
generator unit for the Bluffton NUM-
cipal Power plant was completed last
week by the board of public affairs,
and installation of the equipment will
be started about the middle of Janu-
airy.
Net cost of the modern Westinghouse
unit, complete with direct connected
exeter and surface condenser, will be
$4,000. This is being paid from the
plants cash balance and no bond issue
will be required.
Installation of the turbo-generator
unity will give Bluffton not only inn
proved service, but the guarantee un-
der which it is sold assures operating
economy of at least 40 per cent.
Save $4,000 Yearly
Represented in fuel savings, it is
anticipated that economies of ap-
proximately $4,000 per year will be
effected with the new equipment in
operation.
Buttons present requirements, or
further increase in the load of the
plant, make turbine generation of elec-
tric power the logical answer to econ
omies in operation, Westinghouse en-
gineers have reported to the board OF
public affairs.
With the turbo-generator in opera
tion, the manufacturer guarantees
that for each kilowatt generated that
only from Is to 10 pounds of steam
will be required.
Skinner uniflow engines now used
at the plant have a guarantee of one
kilowatt from 32 to 40 pounds of
steam.
Turbine Impractical Earlier
When Buttons plant first was
equipped, it was impractical to consid-
er turbine generating equipment due
to the fact the load was not heavy
enough, members of the board of
public affairs pointed out. For econ
omies in operation, turbo-generator
should not be used when the load is
less than 500 XIV.
Bluffton's peak load in the early
days of the municipality owned plant
was less than $50 XIV, and it has
only been in recent years that the de-
mand reached the 500 XIV mark.
One of the light plants present
battery of three Skinner unifiow en-
gines is being traded on the turbo-
generator. This is $50 XIV. unit,
for which credit of $1,000 was allow
ed, reducing the purchase price of
$15,5O0, including freight, to net
cost of $4,000.
Continued on page y
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
LIQUOR BAN up
To STATE BOARD
Action Necessary this Week to
Make December 81 Effec-
tive Date
Four Dispensers Here Will be
Affected by Revoking
Of Licenses

Whether sales of light wine and
beer of alcoholic content greater than
3.2 per cent will be discontinued in
Bluffton after midnight Saturday
rests entirely with the state board
of liquor control, according to word
from the mayors office, Tuesday. A
ban on the sale Of these beverages
was voted at the election here in
November.
December 81 was designated early
this month by the town council as
the date on which the state liquor
control board was. authorized to re-
woke dispensers licenses and make
refunds for the unexpired portion to
the holders thereof.
Thus far there has been no word
from the board which will have until
the end of the week to act in re-
voking the licenses to make the
December 81 date effective.
Four Affected
Of six establishments dispensing
light wines and beer here at the
time of the November election, four
will be affected by the revoking of
licenses. OF the other two, one has
been transferred to Lima and an
other will expire the first of the
year.
Date on which the liquor ban be-
comes effective was fixed by the
council, since any refund to liquor
permit holders would involve the ex-
penditure of municipal funds over
which the council has control.
Fixing Of the December 81 date
however, viii involve little or no ex-
penditure in the way of refunds, ac-
cording to data contained in letter
received month ago by Mayor w
A. Howe from Jacob B. Taylor, di'
rector of the department of liquo,
control. 81
December ~a Sunday
In event that the state board o.
liquor control acts to make the re
voking of licenses effective on De
cember 81 as designated by the towr
council, the sale of liquor will stoE
on midnight of December 80, since
the 31st falls on Sunday on which
day sales are legally barred.
Sale of 81 beer is not affected ant
may be continued here.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
To Graduate From
BOWIing Green u.

Miss Eloise Alspach of this place
will be eligible for graduation from
the college of education at Bowling
Green State university upon compile
ton of this semester's work on Janu-
airy Il.
However, her diploma for the de-
gree of Bachelor of Science in Edu-
cation will not be conferred formally
until the June commencement exer-
cises according to c. D. Perry, reg
istrar at the school.
Miss Alspach, instructor in the
Findlay schools for the past three
years has taken summer work at
Bowling Green completing the course
in education. She is the daughter
of o. o. AIspach of this place.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
BlufftOn's Weather On Christmas
Day Will Go In The Record Books
Setting for Holiday is More Like
Spring Than Usual Winter
Atmosphere
Temperature Rises to 40, Yet
Ice Skating is Enjoyed by
Youngsters

Buttons weather on Christmas
Day will be long remembered by res
idents of the area as an unusual
setting for a holiday that usually is
associated with ice, snow and sub
freezing temperatures.
Not in the memory of even the
oldest inhabitants has there been a
Christmas with more balmy or cheer
full weather.
TIE sun shown brightly from
early morning until sunset, the tenn
perature climbed into the 40's and
the atmosphere had an invigorating
tang more reminiscent of early
spring than of mid-winter.
Under the rays of the sun, prac-
tically all vestiges of ice and snow
remaining from last weeks first
snow of the season were dissipated
and by mid-afternoon what many
| had hoped would be white Christ
mas was as green as any in recent
years.
Despite the warm weather, ice was
thick, and youngsters of the town
had a good time cavorting on their
skates in temperatures that did not
require bundlesome clothing.
Automobiles went hurrying thru
Bluffton in all directions thruout the
entire day, and observers said it was
the heaviest Christmas traffic in g
long time. Despite the heavy trave
over highways, driving conditions
presented no hazards and there was
not a single report of an accident
in this area.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
ScOIes-ThOmpsOn
Wedding SOLenanized

Announcement has been made of
the wedding of Miss Salome Scoles,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Norval
Scoles, residing south of Bluffton to
Raymond Thompson of near Ada.
The ceremony took place in Beav-
erdam at the home of the officiating
minister, Rev. Arthur of the Pleas
ant Hill Methodist church, Tuesday
of last week.
The couple will reside on the Pat
terson farm southwest of Ada.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1939-12-28
Driving Snow Storm Sweeps
BlufftOn District Wednesday

A driving snow storm swept into
the Bluffton district Wednesday
morning, effectually putting to an
end period of unseasonably mild
weather.
The snow which fell heavily dur
ing the morning gave indications of
continuing thruout the day. Temper
ature Wednesday morning stood at
twenty degrees.