davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
TOT WANDERING ON
TRACKS IS KILLED
BY FREIGHT TRAIN
Child IL Months Old Meets
Instant Death Near
Beaverdam
Wanders Away While Play
ing in Barnyard; Body
Found On Railroad

Wandering into the path of a
northbound Nickel Plate freight
train, Kenneth j. Gerdemann, IT.
months old son of Mr.. and Mrs.
Joseph Gerdemann, was instantly
killed just outside the yard of the
family home one-half mile north of
Beaverdam on Route 25, last We'd
nesday evening.
The boy, with his sister, Patricia
Ann, 5, was playing in the barnyard
while the mother was busy in the
house. The father was in nearby
field where he had gone to get the
cows for the evening milking.
Patricia Ann left the tot playing
around the tractor, and took a small
chicken to show her mother. Mrs.
Gerdemann asked where the little
boy was, but when told where he was
playing thought nothing further of
the matter, inasmuch as he usually
busted himself by the hour with
pail of bolts around the tractor.
She heard the train approaching
on the track which is only rs feet
from the barn, but felt no concern
inasmuch as the tot had never gone
near the railroad.
Soon after, when the father re-
turned little Kenneth was missed,
and hasty search proved he was
not in the adjacent buildings. The
father anxiously hastened to the
Nickel Plate right-of-way where he
found the boys jacket.
The mangled body of the victim
later was found between the rails
about one-half mile from the point
where the engine struck him by Paul
Diller and son, Ronald Paul Diller,
who had been called from Bluffton
with their ambulance, and an uncle
of the child, Jerome Zuercher.
Members of the train crew were
unaware of the tragedy until in
formed by telephone. Other neigh
bors and friends in the community
had gathered to help in the search
when the body was found. Allen
County Coroner Harry Lewis return
ed verdict of accidental death.
Born Feb. 27, 1914, in Bluffton,
the child is survived by his parents,
the sister, Patricia Ann, and grand
parents. Mr.. and Mrs. Joseph Gerde-
mann OF Beayerdam, and Mr.. and
Mrs. Anthony Pohlman, of Delphos.
Funeral services were held Friday
morning at ST. Marys Catholic
church in Bluffton. Rev. James
Nett, pastor, officiated. Burial was
in Maple Grove cemetery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Mrs. Ella Reeder
Dies At yenerd

Mrs. Ella Lou Reeder, So, for many
years Jenera correspondent for The
Bluffton News, died in her home at
Jenera Sunday afternoon, after hav-
ing been seriously i'll four weeks.
She had been in poor health several
years.
Mrs. Reeder was born Sept. 26,
1879, in Hancock county, the daugh-
ter of Solomon and Susan Steinman.
Except for a few years spent in
Michigan, she had lived all her life
in the county of her birth.
She was married Jan. 8, 1899, to
James A. Reeder, who died six
months ago.
Survivors include one daughter,
Edith, at home, and a step-son, HON.
er Reeder, of Lima. There are two
step-grandchildren.
A twin brother, Ellis, lives in Mt.
Cory, and another brother, George,
resides in Jenera. Two sisters pre-
ceded her in death.
Mrs Reeder was a member of the
Jenera Methodist church, where fun
eral services were held Tuesday
afternoon. Rev. W. Z. Ballinger
officiated. Burial was in the Rock
port cemetery.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
farm LOANS FOR
VETERANS PROVING
DIFFICULT TO Get
No Loans For Purchase Of
Farms BY Veterans Have
Cleared In Allen County
Soaring Land Prices, Inadequacy
of Loan Plan Prove Major
Stumbling Block

General ineffectiveness of the
government-sponsored program to
guarantee loans to World War III
veterans for the purchase OF homes,
businesses or farms. is indicated in
this weeks announcements that so far
no Allen county farm loans have
been cleared for veterans and only
handful of applications have been
made.
Major stumbling block in the farm
loans for veterans picture is that
fact that prices for land, livestock
and machinery have spiraled sharply
upward, and going into business now
as farmer soon resolves into a
matter of financing.
Inadequacy of the government
loan situation is evidenced in the
fact that the maximum government
loan allowed for chattels is $1,000,
and commercial loans can be obtain
ed on land only on a basis of about
one-half its regular value.
No Applications Cleared
As a result veterans find them
selves unable to raise the money re-
quired to take up farming as a post
war occupation, and are presumed
to be turning to other fields, for only
a few applications have been made
thus far thru Allen County Agricul-
tural Agent James Warner, and none
of them have cleared.
With purchase of an S0-acre farm
requiring an outlay of about $4,000
under prevailing prices; purchase of
farm machinery entailing an addi-
tional sum of S3,400 and some 81 1000
extra needed for livestock, the
veteran faces an aggregate invest
ment of upwards of $4,000.
Manifestly, a maximum govern
ment loan of $4,000 on chattels
and a commercial farm loan of nc
more than $1,000 to $4,000 are in.
adequate, for the veteran must be
in a position to provide S10,500 OF
his own money for the deal.
I Rising Prices Barrier
High prices for farms further
serve to discourage loans for veter
ans, inasmuch as all such purchase:
can be made only after qualified
farm appraisers report that the pur
chase price does not represent al
inflated value This is a particular
ly difficult hurdle to surmount, fol
land which normally commands ;
top of $3.50 an acre now Otter
brings as much as 5000 per acre ant
upwards.
In all of Ohio, a survey showe'
last week, only one per cent of tn
few loans made have gone to veter
ans who wanted to establish thei
own businesses or take up farming.
The report showed also that o
guaranteed loans approved for veter
ans to use in the purchase of homes
60 to 10 per cent went to service
men residing in small towns wher
property values have not suffere
from war imitation.
The G. I. bill specifically prescribe
that it will not guarantee its amour
, of the loan unless the property bein
, nurehasad can he bauohf for raaSor
ably normal-not wartime-value.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Conference On Mennonite Gull
tural Problems Headlines
Weeks Program
c. p. S. Educational Directors
And Peace Committee Also
Meet This Week

Three Mennonite meetings on the
Bluffton college campus this week are
being attended by church representa-
tives from all parts of the United
States.
Headlining the weeks activities is
conference on Mennonite cultural
problems which will be attended by
more than $50 delegates Friday and
Saturday.
Second annual meeting of the edu-
cational directors of Mennonite Civil
ian Public Service units is being held
all week on the campus, with 35 at
tending.
The third meeting will be a one
day session of the Peace committee
of the General Conference of Men
monte churches this Thursday.
MENNONITE COLLEGES MEET
Nine colleges from seven states
will be represented at the fourth an
nual conference on Mennonite cul-
tural problems to be held Friday and
Saturday in the college chapel. j.
Winfield Fretz, of North Newton,
Kansas, Bluffton college graduate,
is the chairman.
Colleges which will be represented
include Eastern Mennonite college,
Harrisonburg, Va; Messiah Bible
college, Grantham, Pa; Goshen col
lege, Goshen, Ind; Hesston college,
Hesston, Kans. Bethel college, Beth
ell, Kans.; Tabor college, Hillsboro,
Kans.; Freeman Junior college, Free
man, S. Dak.; Beulah college, Up
land, Calf, and Bluffton college.
Among those who will appear on
the program are Dean J. S. Schultz,
Prof. J. P Klassen and Rev. Paul
Shelly, of Bluffton college; and Rev.
A. E. Kreider, former pastor of the
Bluffton First Mennonite church.
C. p. S. DIRECTORS MEET
Second annual meeting of the Men
MONTE c. p. S. educational directors
now in session is attended by 35
delegates, with Elmer Ediger, OF
Newton, Kansas, in charge of ar
rangements. He works under the di-
rection of the Mennonite Central
committee of Akron, Pa.
Camps operated by the Mennonite
c. P. S. are engaged in building
dams, planting trees and fighting
forest fires. AT Missouli, Montana
the church operates camp to trair
parachute forest fire fighters.
PEACE COMMITTEE MEETS
Peace committee of the Genera
Mennonite conference in its oneida!
session this Thursday in the Mussel
man library, will discuss probleml
associated with preserving worlt
peace.
President of the committee is Rev
H. T. Unruh, of Hillsboro, Kansas
former pastor of the Bluffton FRS
Mennonite church.
Also on the committee are L. ]
Horsch, Ontario, Calf; H. E. Nune
maker, Donnellson, Iowa; Emil Walt
ner, Hurley, S. D.; Rev. Russell
Mast, Wadsworth, Ohio, and Alber
Baeddert, Newton, Kansas.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
BLUFFTON RETURNS
TO SLOW time ON
SUNDAY, SEPT. z
Clocks of Town Will Be Set
Back One Hour First Sun
day in September
Ordinance Provides For Fast
Time in Summer, Slow
Time in Winter

Bluffton will return to Slow Time
in another 10 days, with the clocks
of the town scheduled to be set back
one hour at a. m. Sunday, Sep
tember 2.
Change in the official time of the
town each spring and fall is in con-
formity with a municipal ordinance
adopted two years ago providing for
the town to operate on Fast Time
only during May, june. July and
August.
Changes from one time schedule to
the other automatically are effective
each year on the last Sunday in
April and the first Sunday in Sep
tember, with no additional legislation
being required.
For eight months, from the first
Sunday in September, until the last
Sunday in April the town has been
operating on Slow Time.
With Bluffton clocks being turned
back one hour on Sunday, Sept. 2,
town schools will begin operation
this year on Slow Time the following
Tuesday morning.
Buttons schedule of time change
is in line with what most other cities
in this area observe, and there will
be but little difference in the time
here in comparison with that in other
towns, except for few weeks dur
ing the change-over interim, mas
much as there is no uniform date of
change in the district
With the change to Slow Time in
September, Bluffton residents will
again have to become accustomed to
the variance between Bluffton time
and the time on which railroads and
bus lines will operate. Transports
tion facilities will continue to run on
Eastern War Time, which will be one
hour faster in comparison with Bluff
ton clocks.
Most radio broadcasting stations
also will be on schedules one hour
faster than Bluffton time.
However, with the Japanese war
at an end, it is believed that official
action may be taken soon to repeal
National War Time, which resulted
in all clocks of the nation being set
up one hour back in 1912, and should
that action be taken Bluffton's oper-
alton on Slow Time during the win
ter would coincide with the time used
by railroads and radio stations.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23

Marilyn Ruth Steiner entertained
a number of friends at her home last
Thursday afternoon in honor of her
eighth birthday anniversary and also
complimenting her guest Sondra Sue
Huber of Lodi, n. J.
The occasion was spent in playing
games after which light refresh
ments were served.
Guests invited for the afternoon
were: Wilma Jean and Paul Allen
Jorg, Marlene and Danny Gleason,
Eileen Brauen, jeanne Barnes, Mar
garet Faze, Carolyn Basinger, Mar
jorie, Carolyn and Richard Shick,
Martha Joe limerick, Meredith and
Marjorie Yoakam, Lloyd Paul, Law
renee Race of New York and Paul
david Cfaiuor
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
To Wed In Cleveland

Wedding of Miss Kae Baumgart-
ner, eldest daughter of Mr.. and Mrs
NJ. w. Baumgartner of Cleveland
and Joe Holmes of that city will
take place Saturday evening in the
First Baptist church, Cleveland at
s o'clock.
The bride-elect is the grand
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. Ross
Bogart of Cherry street. Her mother
is the former Bernice Bogart. Miss
Baumgartner was graduated last
spring from Ohio Wesleyan univer-
sity, Delaware. Mr.. Holmes, mem
Der of Coast Guard formerly station
ed in Porto Rico is now assigned to
duty at Painesville.
Among those who will attend the
wedding are Mr.. and Mrs. Ross
Bogart and Mr.. and Mrs. A. l..
Baumgartner and their guests Mr.
and Mrs. Lysle Baumgartner and
daughter Mrs. George Swank, Jr., of
Mishawaka, Ind.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Last Rites For
BeaUerddnl Woman

Funeral services for Mrs. Ella
Williams, 78, of Beaverdam were
held Wednesday afternoon at the
Davis-Miller & Son chapel in Lima.
Mrs. Williams died Monday morn
ing at the Lyle Convalescent home
in Kenton after a three years i'll
ness. She was born in Urbana.
Rev. c. D. Chiles of Leipsic Off
ciated at the services and burial was
in Shawnee cemetery.
Survivors include her husband John
John C. Williams of Beaverdam;
three daughters, Mrs. H. L. Buchan-
an, Lima; Mrs. Joe Eckenwiler,
Beaverdam; Mrs. Fred Berger, Wa
pakoneta and a son J. L. Williams
of Detroit.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Hundreds OF Cars Enroute To
Former Homes In South
Pass Over Dixie Highway
Most OF Families In Long Trek
Have Belongings On Outside
Of Automobiles

Southerners who have lost their
war jobs in closed Detroit factories
are enroute to their former homes in
the South in a wholesale migration
that has taken hundreds of heavily
laden automobiles thru Bluffton on
the Dixie highway during the last
10 days.
Each night since the close of the
war, an average of from so to rs
automobiles with Michigan license
plates have passed thru Bluffton,
headed for the South.
None are northbound, and the
bulging suitcases and household be-
longings tied on the outside and
trailers loaded with furniture mutely
bespeak the end of an era in which
the southern workers enjoyed peak
earnings in the war industries of the
motor capital.
Most of the automobiles travel at
night, because driving in the cooler
part of the day is easier on tires,
practically all of which are in poor
condition.
Altho most of the workers on the
return trek to the South are whites,
there also is a good proportion of
negroes among the migrants. The
transients who stop here for mid
night snack at a restaurant, or pull
up to the curb to eat a lunch car
ried with them, all tell the same
story, with only few minor varia-
tions.
Industrial cutbacks reflected in the
layoff of war plant workers, and no
possibility of additional employment
in the immdiate future, have induced
them to return to their former
homes.
The moving procedure is simple.
They pack up their belongings, buy a
used automobile and start for home.
Most of them leaving Michigan are
travelling over the Dixie highway, a
principal north-south route.
Many of the cars are coming right
off the secondhand dealers floors
and usually look good Cleaned and
polished to make reader sale, they
appear more serviceable than they
really are, for without exception the
tires on most of them are almost
entirely worn through.
In order to prevent as much tire
trouble as possible, the Southerners
are travelling mostly at night when
pavements are cooler and there is
less danger of a blowout. Despite
these precautions, however, scarcely
a night passes without at least one
car going southbound with one tire
gone and running on its rim.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Announce Engagement

Announcement of the engagement
of Cpl. Howard Marquart, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. John Marquart of
Orange township and Miss Doris
Cutherell of Norfolk, Va, was made
the first of the week by C. S. Cuth-
erall, father of the bride-elect. No
date has been set for the wedding.
Cpl. Marquart who recently arrived
from overseas is spending 80 day
furlough at the home of his parents.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Minister Resigns
PastOrute Here

Rev. Milton Fronsoe, pastor of the
Church of Christ here has resigned
his pulpit it was announced the first
of the week. The resignation pre-
sented to the church official board,
Sunday was accepted and will become
effective at the end of this month.
Rev. Fronsoe and family came here
from Collier, West Virginia, last fall
and for the past 10 months he has
been pastor of the church here. He
has announced no plans except to
state that he plans to take over work
in a larger field.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Russell Mast Is
WadslUOrth Pastor

Rev. Russell Mast, former student
in Bluffton college has accepted the
pastorate of the First Mennonite
church in Wadsworth, filling the va
cancy left by the resignation of Don
Smucker, who will attend Princeton
Theological seminary this fall.
Rev. Mast recently resigned the
pastorate of the Mennonite church in
Bedminster, Pa, and he and Mrs.
Mast have made to Wadsworth. Mrs.
Mast is the former Alma Hilty,
daughter of Mr.. and Mrs. c. D.
Hilty of Spring street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
OIin Herr Gets
Army Discharge

Staff Sgt. Olin Herr who served
for 26 months overseas in the Euro
pean theatre of war returned home
the first of the week discharged from
the Army. Sgt. Herr is holder of
the Purple Heart for wounds re-
ceived in combat and other military
decorations. He is the son of Mrs.
Alice Herr of Bentley road.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Rationing Calendar

So that you may keep in mind the
numerous important wartime ra-
tioning dates, the Bluffton News In
publishing this weekly reminder:
MEATS, BUTTER. CHEESE,
CANNED MILK-Book 4 red
stamps o. thru Z-2 and Al
thru K-1 good for 10 points
each. o. thru U-2 expire
August 81.
STGAR-Stamp 36 is now
good for 5 pounds thru August
81.
SHOES-Airplane stamps |,
and 3 in Ration Book No. good
indefinitely.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Wedding Anniversary

Mr.. and Mrs. Fred Hahn observed
their 46th wedding anniversary last
Thursday with a family gathering
at their home on West Elm street.
Present were Mr.. and Mrs. Glen
Eichelberger and family of Toledo
and Mr.. and Mrs. Howard Hahn and
family of Findlay. Evening callers
were Mr.. and Mrs. Nelson Steiner
and family.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23

Investigations by the Oregon Ex-
pertinent Station confirm a state
ment by Ohio Experiment Station
workers that soft corn. is valuable
livestock feed. 1t appears to have
almost equal feeding value to mature
corn on a basis of dry matter con-
tent. Immature corn is subject to
molds and rots in storage but il
appears from the feeding expert
ments that most molds are not
poisonous to livestock.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Racine Warren Is
Home From OUerseus

Sgt. Racine Warren who served in
tie European theatre of war is
spending 30 days furlough with
his wife and little son who have been
making their home with her parents,
Mr.. and Mrs. c. F. Niswander of
South Main street He is the son
of Mr.. and Mrs. J. A. Warren of
Orange township.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Reuel Sutter, Pan
dora, boy, David Ray, Tuesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Eldon Reichenbach,
Columbus Grove, a boy, Monday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ross Irwin, Bluffton,
boy, James Ross, Jr., Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Paul Moening, OF
tawa, a girl, Saturday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ralph Burner, Find
lay, boy, Robert Lynn, Friday.
Pfc. and Mrs. Paul McNeal, Bluff
ton, girl, Patricia Ann last We'd
nesday. Mrs. McNeal is the former
Macedonia Steiner of Bluffton.
Cpl. and Mrs. Chas. Lemley, Pan
dora, boy, James Charles last We'd
nesday. Mrs. Lemley is the former
Alice Jean Steiner.
A boy, William Victor was born to
Capt. and Mrs. Richard Backensto
at Jacksonville, North Carolina, last
Wednesday. Both Capt. and Mrs
Backensto attended Bluffton college
She is the former Frances Jones.
A boy was born to Mr.. and Mrs
Robert Stephan of Cleveland, Aug
ust s. Mr.. Stephan, radio editor OF
the Cleveland Plain Dealer is a Bluff
ton native the son of the late Mr.
and Mrs. Charles Stephan who oper
ated the hotel here about so years
ago.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23

Hens are rapidly being relieved of
chick rearing duties. The latest
estimate is that incubators produce
SIS to 90 per cent of the chicks
Matched annually in the U. S.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
Washing Kerchiefs

Add little salt to the water when
washing handkerchiefs; it bleaches
them and acts as a disinfectant.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-08-23
BLUFFTON MARKETS
Wednesday Morning

Grain tbushel prices) = Wheat
S1.4s; corn SLIP; oats 55c; soys
S2.04.
Detroit evening times., 1945-06-12

ing two firm points OF anchor
the feet and the head. When you
consider by what small margins
for error, a clubhead is laid on
the ball. you can see why balance
is so vitally important. Pictured
is a player swinging in balance
and notice those cooked wrists
and straight left arm. We have
mentioned on several occasions
this week the fact that high
handicap players make too little
use of their hands. Our pictured
player obviously intends to use
his hands. See the power stored
up in his cooked wrists. He's saw
ing that power until his hands
are half way down TO the ball.
And then he'll pour this power
into the shot. This power small
as il may seem. is multiplied, re-
member, by the length of the
shaft. And so your clubhead will
be moving at your maximum
rhythmic speed at impact If you
pour the hand power in starting
il during the last half of the
downswing. Don't neglect your
hands. Pour them into the shot
al the bottom OF the stroke.
Protected by John =. Ollie CO.
Detroit evening times., 1945-06-12
Harness
BOOIllS
BY TOM HARPER

Edwin T. Keller, secretary Of
the Worthwhile Downs meeting,
thinks harness racing is in for its
greatest boom. Track operators
throughout the country are CIV
ing primary consideration now
TO the public. said Keller. and the
improvements made in the North
vile plant since last fall are evil
dence of the fact.
Keller also cites such facts as
turnout OF 10000 persons last
month at the opening of the
Roosevelt harness track on Long
Island with mutuel play totaling
S378.000), and Buffalos problem
of not having sufficient space even
TO accommodate all the locally
owned horses, let alone those
shipped in from outside.
He added that perhaps John @.
Public is just finding out too, that
a So note on the nose of har-
ness horse is just as good Tor
badl an investment as on a
runner.
Tonight the track will inaugur-
ate its reduced admission price to
so cents instead of 81 previously
c arged, which will prevail
throughout the meet.
The Hi Lo Stock Farm Stake
event for PAGERS and the Plym-
outh Mail Stake for trotter's will
feature tonight's 8 race program.
of time COR the first race is $50
ID. m.
Detroit evening times., 1945-06-12
.PosseIius Post
Blanks Briggs

Both outfelds went without
putout as PosSeliuS calcimined
Briggs. 20, in an American Le-
gion east side game. Don Martz
allowed Briggs one hit in each
Of the first, second and third in
nings. The winners had seven of
Henry Johnson.
Harper had four hits and
Beaudry three in IL 10-inning
tie. Mickey Mihelik had a two
hitter as Roose-Vanker checked
Edwards, 20. Tony Costa'S triple
brought in Roose-Vanker's Sec
ond run in the third.
George Roskopp granted four
hits as Alger stumped Stltt. 81
Henry LeBost Of Stitt yielded six
with two going to his rival Ros-
kODD.
Detroit evening times., 1945-06-12
Ruby Faces
Mat BOer

Promoter Harry Liz h t an
nounces a switch in plans for his
second outdoor show at Mack Park
tomorrow night. He has suhsti-
tuted a junior heavyweight title
bout as one of his featured matches
with Bert Ruby, current cham
pion. defending his MWA belt
against the challenge of the Boer
champion. Alik Kaffner, who chal-
lenges Bert for a chance at the
crown. In the companion bout Bill
Weidner meets Whitley" Wahl-
berg, both one hour. There will
be two short matches.