davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Moser of
Ada, daughter, Christine Kay, last
Wednesday.
nd Mrs. Louie Wagner of
Ada, daughter, Eileen Louise,
Thursday. Mrs. Wagner was form
erly Helen Nusbaum.
Mr.. and Mrs. Edw. Mullett of
Leipsic, son, Edward George,
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ross Borkosky of
Arlington, daughter, Jane Ellen,
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Earl Clayton of
Ada, daughter, Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene Haas, of
Bluffton, a son, Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. w. E. Marshall OF
Rockport received word of the birth
of a son Paul David, to Lieut.. and
Mrs. Robert Brnett in the militar,
hospital at Ft. Sam Houston, Sar
Antonio, Texas, Friday Mrs. Bar
nett will be remembered as formerl,
| Mary Marshall.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06

Mrs. Vera Ellen Mitchell, %,
daughter of Albert and Sarah Bad
ertscher, of Bluffton, died in Findlay
hospital at 8 a. m. Tuesday morning,
following fve-days illness. Death
was attributed to hemorrhage.
Mrs. Mitchell was graduated from
Bluffton High school in the class of
1888, and before her marriage to
John ]. Mitchell, of Findlay, on
Jan. 8, 1941, she was employed by
The Triplett Electrical Instrument
Co., of this place.
She was born in Bluffton and was
a member of st. Johns Reformed
church.
In addition to her husband, she is
survived by son, James, 20 months
old; her parents; a sister, Erma
Badertscher, Bluffton; three brothers,
Lyle Badertscher, Rawson; Gene
Badertscher, Bluffton; and Maynard
Badertscher, Camp Blanding, Flor
ida. Surviving also are the grand
parents, Mrs. Lydia Badertscher and
Mr.. and Mrs. Levi Hochstettler of
Bluffton.
Her husband, a private in the
Army Medical corps stationed at
Fitzsimmons General hospital in
Denver, arrived here Wednesday
morning.
Funeral services will be held at
st. Johns Reformed church, Friday
afternoon at 2:30 o'clock with Rev
V. C. Oppermann officiating. Burial
will be in Maple Grove cemetery.
The body is at the Paul Diller
funeral home here where it will re-
main until time for the services or
Friday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06

Rev. Paul Shelley, native of Penns-
burg, Pa, has been appointed in
structor in Bible at Bluffton college
for the coming year, it was an
nounced the first of the week by
President Lloyd Ramseyer.
The incoming instructor is the son
of Rev. Elwood Shelley prominent In
the Mennonite church. He is grad
uate of Ursinus college, Collegeville,
Pa, and Hartford Theological sem
mary, Hartford, Conn.
While in the seminary he won a
scholarship for study in Europe but
was prevented from accepting it be-
cause of the outbreak of war. Later
he enrolled for graduate study in the
Teachers college of Columbia univers-
ity, New York city where he plans
to complete work for doctors de-
gree this summer, doing research
study in the Mennonite movement in
eastern Pennsylvania.
He will begin his work here at
the opening of the college in Sep
tember succeeding Rev. A. c. Schultz
who resigned that position last win
ter and recently accepted position
on the faculty of Northern Baptist
seminary in~Chicago.
Rev. Shelley is brother of An
drew Shelley and Miss Margaret
Shelley, both Bluffton college gradu-
ates.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
StOnehiU Rites
Held Here Fridau

Funeral services were held Friday
afternoon in the St. Johns Reformed
church for j. William Stonehill, II,
father of Clarence Stonehill and
Mrs. Fairie stager, of Button. Rev.
Y. c. Oppermann, pastor of the
church, officiated.
Mr.. Stonehill died last Wednesday
in the Scott convalescent home at
kenton, following an illness of one
year. His wife died in February,
1912.
Survivors include the following
children: Clarence Stonehill and
Mrs. Fairie Stager, of Bluffton: Mrs.
Minnie Gaskins and George Stone
hill, of Akron; J. L. Stonehill, of
TT. Wayne; Brs. Carrie Brown, OF
Letart, West Virginia; Mrs. Helen
Inman, of Chicago, ILL.,; and Harold
Stonehill, of Phoenix, Arizona.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Couple Is We'd In
Ceremony Suf,day

Mrs. Mildred Hartman, daughter
of Mr.. and Mrs. d. C. Bixel became
the bride of Millard 0berly, in a
ceremony at the home of the brides
brother, DR.. and Mrs. Gordon Bixel
of Spring street.
The double ring service was read
by Rev. j. N. Smucker of the First
Mennonite church in the presence of
the immediate family at noon.
The bride wore for the occasion a
street length dress of romance blue
with white accessories. Her flowers
were a corsage of talisman rosebuds.
Following a wedding dinner the
couple left for a short trip. They
will be at home at the Oberly resi-
dence on Cherry street the last of
this week.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
BIG WHEAT CROP
SETS RECORD FOR
EARLY MARKETING
First Load of Wheat is Brought
to Elevator Here on
July /
Harvest Season Earliest in
Years; Yield 30 to 35
Bushels Acre

First of the new wheat crop, one
of the best in recent years, is being
sold on the Bluffton markets this
week. The recent heat wave which
sent temperatures over 100 degrees
ripened the stand rapidly and pushed
the harvest season from a week TO
ten days ahead of the average year,
keeping many farmers busy in the
fields over the Fourth of July holi-
day.
Marketing started here last Satur-
day afternoon when Fred Mueller,
residing on the Dixie highway north
of Bluffton brought the first load of
the new crop to the Farmers Grain
company elevator.
The wheat was harvested by COM
bine from 21 acre tract which pro-
duced 80 bushels per acre, This Is
believed to have established a local
record for early marketings as vet
eran grain dealers and farmers said
they could not recall any previous
year when new wheat was sold here
on the first day of July.
CONFIRM GOOD YIELD
Additional marketing of the new
wheat crop the first of this week at
the Bluffton Milling and Farmers
Grain company elevators confirmed
earlier estimates by reliable observ-
ers that wheat in this section would
produce from 80 to 35 bushels per
acre. Average wheat yield over a
period of years is about 20 bushels
to the acre.
The test also, this year is reported
above average, running from SO to
81 pounds per bushel. Moreover the
moisture content is said to be salts
factory from IL to 1914 per cent.
The wheat brought s1.52 bushel,
which was seven cents above the
price of S1.45 quoted Wednesday
morning.
Cutting with binders has been in
progress for the past ten days and
nearly all fields have been opened
where combines will be used. A con-
tinuance of fair weather should see
most of the crop cut by the end of
this week.
Hot WEATHER HITS OATS
The oats yield will not be as high
as anticipated because of the ex-
tremely hot weather and lack of
sufficient moisture The crop has
matured rapidly but needed more
moisture during the process, it is
said.
There are some exceptionally fine
fields of corn in the district while
in other fields the moisture has been
insufficient for termination. In
these fields replanting has been ne
cessary.
A similar lack of sufficient mois.
ture has been noted in some soybear
| fields
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
RECORD CROWD OF
1000 R0DE0 FANS
jam HARMON FIELD
Fourth of July Gathering is
Believed Largest Ever AS
sembled Here
Horsemen from Northwest Ohio
and Southern Michigan Vie
i'm Events

Harmon field was jam-packed
Tuesday night when what is believed
to have been the largest crowd ever
assembled here for any single event
gathered to witness Buttons Fourth
of July rodeo. Attendance at the
rodeo was estimated at 1000.
Officials of the two sponsoring
organizations, the Bluffton Sports
mems club and the Bluffton Saddle
Horse club stated that there were
3,075 paid admissions in addition to
free admissions for contestants,
service men in uniform and pre-
school children. Besides this there
were hundreds viewing the affair
from automobiles parked near the
field.
Eclipsing the light of full moon
which hung high in a cloudless sky
were the brilliant flood lights of
Harmon field which enhanced the
carnival atmosphere and the
big crowd generously applauded dis
plays of skillful horsemanship until
long after midnight.
Stadium Packed Early
The stadium, packed long before
the opening hour, was the focal point
for the evenings attractions with
the Rawson band furnishing music
and tha nuhfic address SvStenn broad
casting announcements of events and
winners.
Overflow crowds of spectators un-
able to gain admission to the stadium
surrounded the football field fenced
off for the events. Some brought
blankets and camp chairs while
others standing, sought points of
Continued on page 81
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
BlufftOn Man Was SchOolmate Of
General Carl Spaatz Back In 1910
Harvey Beidler and Present
Bomber Commander Fellow
Students at Perkiomen
General Spaatz Left Perkiomen
To Enroll i'm West Point
Military Academy

Whenever Harvey Beidler, of South
Jackson street, reads of the exploits
of the U. s. Air Force in Europe he
is reminded of the days when he and
Lieut.. General Carl Spaatz, COM
mander of the aerial arm overseas,
were schoolmates in Pennsylvania.
He and Gen. Spaatz were fellow
students at Perkiomen school, in
Pennsburg, Pa, back in 1910. Spaatz,
a sophomore, and Beidler, a fresh
man, were good friends.
Beidler recalls the Army Air Force
chief as an average American boy,
soon to embark on his military ca
reer, for he left the following year
to enroll in the U. S. Military acad-
emy at West Point.
Spaatz' father was editor of the
Bucks County Democrat at Boyer
town, Pa, about 10 miles from Penns.
burg. At that time, he spelled his
name Spatz, but later changed it tC
Spaatz, to eliminate the possibilit,
of pronunciation to rhyme will
cats.
Gen. Spatz during the hectic day.
followed World War | was one of .
small group who kept the U. S
Army Air force alive. Others in this
little unit were Generals "Hap" Ar
mold, Jimmy Doolittle and Ira Eaker
all of whom are playing prominent
roles in this wars air activities.
Spaatz it was who as major com.
manded the Fokker Monoplane "Ques.
tion Mark" on its famous endurance
flight far back in the twenties.
Today as commander of all Il. S
bomber forces in England, General
Spaatz is ranked as the worlds No
bomber, and the great planes oper.
ating under his direction have caused
more damage to German installations
than all the havoc Germany piled on
England in the early days of the
war.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
BLUFFTON VETERAN
DISABLED IN ITALY
HITS COMP
Pfc. Walter Schnegg Who Saw
Action on Anzio Beach
head is Home
Civilians do not Realize Serious
ness of Struggle, Veteran
Says

American soldiers wallowing thru
mud and living in water-logged fox
holes on the Italian front feel that
too many civilians at home do not
realize the seriousness of the war,
according to Pfc. Walter Schnegg, 81,
who arrived home, in Bluffton Thurs
day night after having been dis
charged from the army because of
nervous disability.
He is the son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Chris Schnegg, of South Lawn
avenue.
Schnegg was with an artillery
unit overseas for 1S months. He
saw action in Africa, Sicily and Italy.
On the Anzio beachhead from Jan.
% to Feb. 18 of this year, he
developed a nervous disorder which
makes it necessary for him to walk
with a cane to maintain his balance.
During the first seven days on the
Anzio front, Schnegg saw the Nazis
put over 58 air raids, and men had
to live all the time in fox holes. No
tents could be put up because of
the air raids, and soldiers had to
live in the open in rain, snow and
mud.
Bitter About Strikes
Soldiers going thru these condi-
tions feel they deserve the united
support of everyone on the home
front, and they are bitter about
strikes in American plants. If civil
lians could be at the front one hour
or two, the Fifth War Loan drive
would be oversubscribed in one days
time, he said.
Schnegg thinks the European war
will be over this year, but he said
that many of the young Nazi soldiers
still feel they will win the war.
Older Nazi prisoners, however, are
doubtful.
| The Bluffton man returned to this
country by boat April IT, with $500
servicemen, most of whom were
wounded, and was in a military
hospital at Martinsburg, West Vir-
ginia, from April Is to June IL.
He then was sent to Dayton where
he was honorably discharged June
II.
Schnegg was a section man on the
Nickel Plate railroad before going
into the army.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Real Estate Deals

Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Deitler living
at Gilboa have sold their property at
that place and purchased the Cherry
street property formerly owned by
her grandfather, the late Joe Huber.
The place is now occupied by the
B. r. Schafer family. Mr.. and Mrs.
Deitler expect to move into the prop
erty this fall. He is employed at the
Triplett plant here.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
TO W NSHIP ROAD
IMPR0vEME ENT IS
LAUNCHED HERE
Ten Miles of Township Roads
to be Resurfaced in
$4,000 Program
Additional Work Is Planned For
Next Fall, Township and
County Share Cost

Resurfacing ten miles of Richland
township roads at a cost of approx
mately $4,000 is under way in a
highway improvement program spon-
sored jointly by the township trustees
and Allen county commissioners.
Roads included in the summer
work program now are hard-surfaced
and the improvements consist of
adding one-inch sealing layer of
stone chips and heavy asphalt road
tar.
This summers work represents the
largest schedule of improvements to
Richland township roads since the
outbreak of war, and it is a part OF
an extensive Allen county roac
project that viii cost approximately
$175,00O.
When work on the township roads
started last week it was learned that
the program locally had been expand
ed beyond the plans announced last
spring.
Two New Projects
Two new projects have been added
it was announced by the township
trustees. The larger of the two
projects is the resurfacing of three
and one-fourth miles of the Rockport
road from the Dixie highway one
mile south of town to the Napoleon
road, State Route No. 696.
The other addition is resurfacing
two mile stretch of the College
road from Grove street to the Put
nam county line.
Also in the road program are
planned improvements to two miles
of the Grismore road from the Peter
Lehman corner east to the Pandora
road at the Triplett farm; one mile
of the Pandora road from the
Putnam county line south to the
Grismore road; and one and three
quarters miles of the Yant road
going north from the Richland.
Monroe township tine.
More Work in Prospect
A continuation of the road pro
gram next fall will find the county
commissioners resurfacing another
three and one-half miles of road or
the Richland township portion of the
Allen Hancock county line, beginning
at the Jackson township line anc
going north.
Cost of the spring and summer
improvement is being shared b!
Richland township trustees anC
county commissioners.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Funeral Tuesday
For VIM. r. Iutzi

Funeral services were held for
William F. Iutzi, 72, Bluffton insur-
ance representative at his residence
on Grove street, Tuesday afternoon.
Mr.. Iutzi died at his home Sun
day morning at / o'clock following
an hours illness due to heart at
tack. News of his death came as
surprise to his many friends and
business associates.
The family came to Bluffton %
years ago moving from Kokomo,
Ind, where he had been engaged in
farming, real estate and banking
business.
Nineteen years ago he purchased
the d. S. Flick insurance agency fol-
lowing the latter's death and oper-
ated steadily expanding business
in this field.
He was born at Hopedale, Ind,
November 26, 1871, the son of Fred
erick and Johanna Iutzi. On Feb
ruary 13, 1896 he was married to
Johanna Helen Augspurger, who sur
wives. He was a lifelong member
of the Mennonite church.
Besides his wife he is survived by
three daughters: Mrs. Clarence
Kraft of Birmingham, Mich; Mrs.
Norman Edwards of Delphos and
Mrs. Leland Diller of Bluffton.
Also surviving are two sisters: |:
Mrs. Walter Phillips of Peoria, ILL.,,
and Miss Louise Iutzi of Hopedale,
H., and two brothers Otto Iutzi of
Hopedale, H., and Robert Iutzi of
Stanford, Illinois.
Officiating at the funeral services
was Rev. j. N. Smucker, pastor of
the First Mennonite church. Inter
ment was in Maple Grove cemetery
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Advanced In Rank

Sgt. Raymond Greding stationed
at the army air base at Wendover
Field, Utah, has been advanced to
the rank of staff sergeant He is
the son of Mrs. L. T. Greding of
West College avenue.
Pvt. Edgar Huber, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Harry Huber, in training with
the marines at Oceanside, Calf, has
been promoted to the rank of first
class private.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
It's Vacation Week For BlufftOn
Industry And Business Places
40 Enroll Here For
Presbyterian Meet

More than 100 registrants are at
tending Presbyterian conference
for young persons of the Lima and
Toledo Presbyteries, which opened
Monday afternoon on the Bluffton
college campus.
Total registration for the seven
day session, scheduled to close next
Monday morning, is ITO. Rev. John
CARRIER, of Madeira, Ohio, is the
leader.
Youths attending the conference
are quartered in the mems and wo-
mems dormitories at the college, and
sessions are held in college buildings
and on the campus.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
T,UO From, Here Train
At Great Lakes, M.

Two Bluffton men are receiving
their naval indoctrination training at
the u. S. Naval station, Great Lakes,
Illinois.
They are Paul S. Geiser, 27, hus-
band of Marie Geiser, North Main
street, and Robert E. Stratton, 18,
son of Mr.. and Mrs. Cliff Stratton,
of East Elm street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
$4,000 Needed To Put S11O Thousand
War Loan Drive Over Top In Bluffton

Nearly $4,000 remains to be
raised if Buttons Fifth War Loan
drive is to go over the top before the
national closing on July Is, it was
pointed out this week by those in
charge of the Bluffton solicitation.
House-to-house canvassing has been
completed here except FOR a few
follow-up calls, and heavier buying
on the part of individuals who al
ready have made purchases will be
necessary to assure that Buttons
goal of $4,000 will be reached.
Sales at the close of Monday
reached the 100000 mark, but many
residents of the town must increase
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Missionaries Will
Tell OF HOpi Indians

Life and customs of the Hopi In
dians will be described by Rev. and
Mrs. j. P. Suderman who will speak
at the Ebenezer Mennonite church
Sunday night at 8:15 o'clock.
Rev. and Mrs. Suderman who have
been engaged in mission work among
the Indians of the southwest are now
on furlough during which time he is
acting pastor of the Mennonite
church at Berne, Indiana.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06

their purchases if the drive is to
go over the top.
In Allen county as a whole the
campaign still is running behind
schedule, but the celebration of the
Fourth of July and a renewed pa
triotic interest have given a new
impetus to bond buying this week.
Norman A. Triplett and M. NJ.
Bogart, co-chairman of the Bluffton
campaign, said that much of the sue
cess attained so far in this drive has
been assured by the conscientious
work of war bond solicitors who COW
cred the entire town in a house-to-
house campaign.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
TlUO From Here Train
At Great Lakes, H.

Two Bluffton men are receiving
their initial naval indoctrination at
the q. S. Naval Training Station,
Great Lakes, Illinois.
Their recruit training completed,
these men will spend a period of
leave at home. They are: Clark L.
Basinger, 18, son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Gust Basinger, R. Z. No. 2; and
Kenneth L. Finton, 18, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Wade J. Finton, 32s Cherry
street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
GraUeside Rites
Held For Infant

Graveside burial services were held
at Maple Grove cemetery Saturday
afternoon for the infant son of Mr..
and Mrs. Robert Potee of Lima who
died shortly after birth in Bluffton
hospital, Saturday morning. Rev. A.
r. Albro of the Missionary church
offic;ated at the service.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
On French Front

Merlin Diehl, formerly of this Vi
cinity is somewhere in France ac-
cording to word received by his
mother, Mrs. G. w. Rover of Lima,
the first of the week.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
Leaves For G. o.
Camp In Virginia

James Landes of Lincoln hall, left
Monday for conscientious obiectors
camp at Luray, Virginia, it was an
nounced by Allen County Draft
Board No. 3.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1944-07-06
MT. VICTORY MAN
HIRED AS HEAD OF
BLUFFTON SCHOOLS
Ralph s. LanhaIu is Named by
Board to Fill Longsdorf's
Place
Has Been Head of Schools in
Mt. Victory for Last
Three Years

Ralph S. Lanham, 38, of Mt. Vic
tory in Hardin county has been hired
as super endent Of the Bluffton
schools, lanham who has been sup
erintenuent of the Mt. Victory
schools for the past three years was
hired by the Bluffton board at
special meeting on Friday night to
fill the vacancy caused by the resig-
nation of Supt. A. J. B. Longsdorf.
The board voted unanimously to
offer Lanham two year contract at
a salary of S2,700 for the first year
with a possible increase for the sec
ond year. Longsdorf's annual salary
at the time of his resignation was
$4,000.
Altho Lanham has not formerly
accepted the position, his acceptance
will be forthcoming as routine mat
ter since he was an applicant for
the position and was one of three
interviewed by the board at the Fri
day night meeting.
INVESTIGATED By BOARD
Following the action Friday night,
it was announced that board mem
bers had investigated Lanham's rec
ord at Mt. Victory where he was
we'll recommended.
The incoming superintendent is a
native of Virginia, whose parents
moved to the Shenandoah valley
from near Harrisburg, Pa. He was
graduated from the University of
Virginia with Bachelor of Arts de-
gree, majoring in English and chem
istry.
He was also student in the grad
uate. school Of the University of
North Carolina and later received
the Master of Arts degree from Ohio
State university re is a member
|of Phi Beta Kappa, honorary schol-
astic society
Is YEARS EXPERIENCE
Lanham has had eighteen years ex-
perience in the school room, including
both teaching and administrative
work. For the last II years he has
taught in Ohio spending four years
in New Metamoras and five years in
Vincent, both in Washington county
before going to Mt. Victory where
he has been for three years. Before
coming to Ohio he taught in the
| North Carolina schools.
He is married with two daughters
aged and 9 years and is member
of the United Brethren church. This
summer he is employed at the Lima
Tank depot.
The new school head will make ar
rangements to move his family to
Bluffton this summer as soon as
housing accommodations can be OBJ
| tanned.
BOARD MEETS LATE
Hiring of the new superintendent
ended the boards search for a head
of schools here since the resignation
of Supt. Longsdorf early in May.
There were 20 candidates for the
position, 10 of which were selected
by the board for consideration and
investigation. OF this latter number
three were under consideration Fri
day night.
Vote to extend a contract to Ian.
ham, the only candidate voted upon
was taken after midnight and it was
after l a. m. when the board ad
journed.