davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Home On FurlOughs

T/Sgt. Paul Augsburger who spent
the past two years in the Pacific war
area is spending a 45 day furlough
at the home of his parents Mr.. and
Mrs. Elias Augsburger of South
Jackson street. He arrived Sunday
morning after 32-day ocean voy-
age. He will return to the same war
area at the conclusion of his fur
Tough.
Donald Lehman who has been i'll
at the Naval hospital at Shoemaker,
Calf, will arrive Saturday to spend
several days with his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Roy Lehman of near Pan
dora, former Bluffton residents. He
is enroute to new assignment at
the Brooklyn navy yard. Because of
recent illness he will remain in this
country for the next six months.
1t. Glen Slusser of the Navy spent
the week end with his parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Ira Slusser and sister
Miss Theresa Slusser. He had just
returned from a trip to the Middle
East.
Pvt. Robert Scoles returned Tues
day to Camp Perry, N. Y, after
spending a furlough here with hi.
parents, Mr.. and Mrs. Alva Scoles
of Cherry street.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
$4,000 fire RAzES
TWO-STORY HOUSE
ON HARRIS farm
Firemen Battle Blaze in Union
Township for Five Hours
Saturday
Blaze Starts At Chimney Under
Roof; Household Goods Are
Saved

A mid-afternoon fire which burned
a two-story frame house to the ground
on the Grover Harris farm six miles
north of Bluffton in Union township,
kept Bluffton firemen on duty five
hours last Saturday to prevent its
spread to other farm buildings.
Called to the fire at 3 p. M, the
Bluffton department remained on the
scene until p. m. to make sure that
the blaze would not spread to other
buildings in addition to the razed
house which had been occupied by
Harris and his son and daughter-in-
law, Mr.. and Mrs. John Harris.
Flames Gain Headway
Mrs. Harris was in the house when
the fire broke out under the roof
around chimney connected to fur
mace. BY the time the Bluffton fire
truck arrived, the blaze was beyond
control.
Altho the house was razed, with
damages estimated at $4,000, most of
the household furnishings were saved.
The loss is covered by insurance.
In fighting the fire, the Bluffton de-
partment laid more than 900 feet of
hose to get water from ditch. The
Mt. Cory and Pandora fire depart
ments also answered the call.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
SIX MEN OF Is IN
MAY DRAFT CALL
TO BE FROM HERE
Allen County Board No. 3 Has
Notified Is To Report For
Induction
May Call OF Board Is Consider
ably Lighter Than In April
When 81 Went

Six Bluffton area men are included
in a group of Is registrants notified
by Allen County Draft Board No. 3 to
report for induction into the armed
forces in the May call.
Those from this district who will be
inducted are Donald ]. Ream, Grove
street; Harold J. Crawfs, w. High
street; Francis Paul Moser, Route 2;
Dayle L. Huber, Route /; Donald E.
Barber, Route l, Columbus Grove, and
Lyle j. Badertseher, Rawson.
Other inductees are Garland Har-
vey, Harrod; Elmer Hanes, Lima;
Willis Spencer, Harrod; Frederick
John, Elida; John Kaverman, Delphos;
Francis Hughes, Lima; Harold Bow
ers, Lima; Albert Kerns, New Al
bany, Ind; and Clair Camper, Lima.
Mays draft call by Board No. 3 is
considerably lighter than that of
April when 81 men were taken, but
SO far as the immediate Bluffton area
is concerned approximately the same
number of men will be inducted.
The April call for 81 men included
nine from here, but the proportion is
much higher in May when six of Is
will come from Bluffton.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Local Mans Brother
Is Killed In Action

1t. Malcolm Bigelow, 81, was killed
in action in Germany, April II, ac-
cording to word received here the
first of the week. He was a brother
of Rev. Ernest Bigelow, former pas
tor of the Bluffton and Rockport
Presbyterian churches who is now
serving overseas as an Army chap
lain.
1t. Bigelow had been overseas with
IAN infantry unit about three months
before his death. Before entering
the army he was employed in the
office of a New York stock broker
He also attended Duke university at
Durham, North Carolina.
Surviving are his widow and eight
months old daughter Donna of Po-
mona, Calf; father and mother, Mr..
and Mrs. Edwin Bigelow of Belmar,
N. j.; and three brothers Clinton of
Long Beach, Calf; Rev. Ernest
Bigelow, overseas, and Rev. Harry
Bigelow of Massillon.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03

Allen county landowners unable to
attend the election called for June I
on the proposal TO establish a soil
conservation district, will have an OPP
portunity for absentee voting at a
meeting of the Community Sports
mems club at the town hall next
Tuesday night at $3.50 o'clock.
Opening Of the polls will follow
the regular meeting which starts at
3 o'clock. James II. Warner, Allen
county farm agent stated that repre-
sentatives would be present at the
meeting to explain the proposal
which is aimed at combating soil
erosion.
Any landowner of three or more
acres in the county is eligible to
vote on the measure.
Two Bluffton area men, Henry
Huber and Raymond Stratton are
members of the county committee
sponsoring the election which will be
held thruout the county June 1.
Voters in this district will cast their
ballots at Richland Grange in the
evening OF that day.
If the vote results favorably, there
will be provided by the state a spe-
cialist who will offer free technical
service to individual farmers or
groups of farms on soil, water or
timber conservation or drainage.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
MdsOns To Observe
Past Masters Night

Past Masters night will be OBJ
served at a meeting of the Bluffton
Masonic lodge at 7:30 p. m. next
Monday, with officers of 1923 filling
the principal stations for work in
the M. M. degree.
All offices will be taken by past
masters in work of the evening, with
DR.. Evan Basinger acting as Master;
Armin Hauenstein, Senior Warden;
Ralph T. Stearns, Junior Warden,
and G. r. Bogart, Senior Deacon.
These are the offices they held re-
spectively in 1928.
Other past masters who will fill
stations include George Rauenbuhler,
Charles Alderman, DR.. B. R. Herr
ing, Sidney Hauenstein, Henry Hilty,
George Klay, Harold Beals, Donavin
B. Conrad and ROLAND Stratton.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
BLUFFTON YOUTH
Is HOME FROM
NAzI PRISON CAMP
Pvt. James StonehilI Returns
Tuesday on Sixty Day
Furl0ugh
Was Held Nearly Four Months
As Prisoner of War i'm
Germany

Pvt. James Stonehill, 10, Bluffton
infantryman who was held for nearly
four months in German prison camp
and later freed by American forces,
is home on a so day furlough.
Pvt. Stonehill, the first Bluffton
prisoner of war to return, reached
here Unexpectedly and his parents, Mr..
and Mrs. Swan Stonehill were una
ware of his presence in this country
until he arrived at the family home
on East Elm street, Tuesday morning
at 1:30 o'rlock.
During the time he was prisoner
of war the Blufton youth was held at
large camp near Bad Orb in CEN
trail Germany. He said that he had
received no i'll treatment but food was
insufficient and of poor quality as
result of which he developed a stom-
ach ailment and lost 90 pounds in
weight. He saw no other Bluffton
men in the camp during his time
there.
Yanks Smash Prison Gates
Liberation of the prisoners came on
April 2 when American tanks crashed
thru gates at the camp and Nazi
guards surrendered. Seeing their
liberation at hand, inmates of the
camp rushed out to meet their res
cuers. Some, however, were so weak
they fell at the roadside.
Pvt. Stonehill, together with group
of other Americans was flown by plane
to the French port of LeHarve from
where they were brought to New York
city by boat, landing last Saturday.
After his 60-day furlough he will re-
port at Miami, Florida.
His parents learned week ago of
their sons release from the German
prison camp thru letter which he
wrote while in France.
Pvt. StonehiH was taken prisoner
by the Germans on December IL dur
ing the battle of the Belgian bulge,
His parents were notified on January
IT that he was missing in action and
on March Is they learned that he was
held a prisoner of war.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Injured In Wood
Buzzing Accident

Wallace Lugibihl, 27, of Pandora
is seriously i'll in Bluffton hospital
where he underwent an operation
last Saturday for ruptured intes-.
tine as the result of an accident the
previous afternoon.
Lugibihl who resides with his par
ents, Mr.. and Mrs. Edward Lugibihl
one-half mile south of Pandora was
engaged in buzzing wood on the
farm of Albert Amstutz, neighbor
when a piece of wood flew back from
the saw, striking him in the abdomen
He was removed in the Paul DilIer
ambulance to Bluffton hospital Satur-
day morning where he underwent an
operation a short time later.
Lugibihl who has been on the
farm for the past two years wan
previously employed by the Diller
funeral home here
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Town Whistle And Ringing Church
Bells Will Announce We Day Here
Get SI45 Loot In
Noon Hour Robbery

Loot in the sum of $145 was stolen
from the safe of the Gray & White
cream station on South Main street
last Wednesday noon while F. d.
Anderson, in charge of the estab-
lishment was at nearby restaurant
for his midday lunch.
Anderson was absent from the
place for less than fifteen minutes
and the combination of the safe was
not thrown, being protected only by
the day lock. Entrance to the place
was gained by lifting the inside
latch on a rear door.
The loot consisted of a package of
currency in one dollar bills. Other
money in silver lying nearby in the
safe was not molested.
Anderson discovered the theft on
his return and notified the police who
are working on several clues.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
NelUs Of BluftOn
Men In Service

Pfc. Laverne II. Huber, son of Mr..
and Mrs. Waldo Huber, of Route 2,
Bluffton, has received the Bronze
Star medal for meritorious service
in action in Germany.
He is a machine gunner with the
18th armored division.
A Bronze Star medal has been
awarded to Capt. Charles A. Patter-
son, husband of Mrs. Carol Patter-
son., of 327 South Jackson street
The award was made for meritor-
ious service in handling the mail for
the air corps replacements in the 8th
and 9th Air Forces in England.
Pvt. Richard c. Rockey, son of
Mr.. and Mrs. C. B. Rockey, of 135
Riley street, has received his aerial
gunner's wings after completing
training at the Army Air Forces
Flexible Gunnery school at Tyndall
Field, Panama City, Florida.
He is now qualified to take his
place as a member of the combat
crew of an AAF bomber.
Sgt. Gerald A. Basinger, son of
Mrs. Martha Basinger, of Route q,
! Bluffton, was recently promoted from
corporal at the Fouth Air Forces
Army Air Field, Mountain Home,
Idaho.
Sgt. Basinger is now assigned on
a Liberator bomber as a gunner.
The Combat Infantryman badge
has been awarded to Pfc. Richard K.
Berky, son of Prof. and Mrs. H. W.
Berky, GAG College avenue, who is
with the 9Th Armored Division in
Germany.
Award of the badge, silver rifle
on blue field, involves additional
risk pay.
C. D. Kirkland, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. V. A. Kirkland, one and one
half miles north of town, has been
promoted to Master Mechanic 1st
class in the Seabees.
| He is on Luzon island in the Phil
ippines, and has previously had a
rating as Mechanics Mate &c.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Collect 1000 Pounds
Clothing For Relief

Bluffton collected 1000 pounds of
used clothing as it's contribution for
European relief, it was stated Tues
day night by DR.. Gordon Bixel of the
Lions club which sponsored the pro-
ject here.
Collection under the United Ma
tions auspices here closed April Fl.
Clothing contributed since that time
has been turned over to the Mennon-
ite Central committee which also
maintains an overseas organization
for relief purposes.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Sgt Richard Cookson Is Cited For
Heroic Action In Saarlautern Area

Sgt. Richard r. Cookson, Head
quarters Battery, seth Field Artil-
lery Battalion, of Button, has re-
ceived a Certificate of Merit for out
standing service during the 65th
Divisions action at Saarlautern in
Germany.
Sgt. Cookson's wife, Mrs. Betty
Cookson and his mother, Mrs. Mabel
Cookson, live at 327 South jackson
street, Bluffton.
Sgt. Cookson, according to the Off
cial recommendation for the Certif-
cate of Merit, was in charge of three
enlisted men who were given the
mission of installing wire communica-
ton an an Infantry Battalion for
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
BlufftOn College Commencement
Week Will Open On Friday, May Is
Thirteen Seniors Will Graduate
This Year; May Queen
To Be Crowned
Commencement Speaker Will Be
DR.. Henry Hit Crane,
Detroit, Pastor

Varied features on busy four-day
calendar of Bluffton College com
mencement activity will get under
way on the campus, Friday, May 18,
nearly one month earlier than the
usual peace-time schedule.
Highlights of the commencement
activities will be crowning of the
May Queen in Bluffton Day fertivi-
ties, presentation of a Thespian
play; a Booster concert featuring
alumni musicians; baccalaureate
services and commencement exercises.
Opening event of the calendar will
be the Booster concert in Ramseyer
chapel at 8 p. m. Friday, May 18.
Closing the weeks activity, COM
mencement exercises will be held for
13 graduating seniors on Monday
morning, May 21. DR.. Henry Hit
Crane, of the Central Methodist
church, Detroit, Mich, will be the
class speaker.
BLUFFToN DAY
A busy schedule on Saturday, May
10, will include class programs, spe-
cial luncheons, crowning of the May
Queen in the colorful Bluffton Day
ceremonies; followed by the alumni
banquet and presentation of the
Thespian play in the evening.
President L. L. Ramseyer will ad-
dress the baccalaureate service on
Sunday, May 20, following which the
presidents reception will be held. In
the evening the girls glee club will
present concert.
Included in the graduating class
will be Frances Beckenbach, Can
field, Ohio; Esther Habegger, Busby,
Montana; Donna Hartzler, Bloom
ington, Illinois; Evelyn Johnson, Bu-
cyrus, Ohio; Arthur Keiser, Quaker
town, Pa; Harvey Mitchell, Pandora !;
Maynard Shelly, East Greenville, Pa. /;
I! Lois Sommer, Pekin, Illinois, and
Eleanor Weaver, Goshen, Indiana, all
of whom will receive A. B. degrees.
Also in the graduating class are
Helen Arters, Spencer, Ohio; Girls
elda Gehman, East Greenville, Pa. !;
Fred Soldner, Pandora, A. B. degrees,
and Phyllis Bachman, Washington,
Illinois, bachelor of science in home
economics who will complete their
work in August.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Eugene Basinger,
Bluffton, boy, Philip Ray, Tuesday.
Rev. and Mrs. Eli Steiner, Bluff
ton, a girl, Sharon Hope, Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Ray Burkholder,
Pandora, girl, Carolyn Jean,
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Martin Grismore,
Pandora, girl, Beverly Jane, Sum
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. r. 3. Weiss of Mar
ion, daughter at Marion City hos
pital, Saturday. Mrs. Weiss is the
former Miss Laveta Clymer of Bluff
ton. -~-.A...
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Chorus To Appear At y
Union Service Sunday

The Hancock County Chorus, a
vocal ensemble of so voices, will pro-
vide the program for Buttons union
monthly service at the First Men,
MONTE church, Sunday night at 8
o'clock, it is announced by the Bluff
ton Ministerial association which
sponsors the services.
The chorus, composed of singers
drawn from various localities in
Hancock county, is in its tenth sea-
son under direction of Harley Dreis-
bach assisted by Russell Barnhill-
Accompanies are Mrs. w. w. Cook
and Miss Arlene Young, pianists.
and Nile Gibson, organist.
The program Sunday night will
consist principally of sacred vocal
numbers interspersed with instru-
mental selections.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03

ward CP under enemy fire.
During the accomplishment of this
mission, shells landed as close as %
yards. Upon completing the install
lation, Sgt. Cookson and his COM
rades had to return over the same
route, crossing a point where two
men had been killed and 10 injured
that night. They spliced a wire in
an open space within 200 yards of
the enemy, lighted by enemy flares,
with machine gun fire going directly
overhead.
Their actions enabled observers to
relay fire commands over the wire
line when other means of communi-
cation had failed. This action took
place on the night of March II.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
PRIMARY ELECTION
LIKELY Will. NOT
BE NEEDED HERE
No Contests Develop On Either
Ticket Five Hours Before
Filing Deadline
With Neither Ticket Filled By
Parties No Primary Will
Be Held

Barring unexpected late filing of
cadidates, Bluffton viii have no pri-
mary election this summer, with the
present political alignment indicating
there viii be no inter-party contests
on either ticket.
Dealine for the fling of candidates
petitions is 6:30 p. m. this Wednesday
and at noon it was practically certain
that there will be no contests.
In fact Wednesday morning devel-
opments, from which no material
change is expected, finds neither tick
ct completely filled, with all indica-
tions to the effect that Mayor w. A.
Howe, Republican, seeking his fourth
term, will be the only mayoralty
candidate in next falls election.
Likewise, the Republicans have no
candidate for town clerk, and w. o.
Geiger, Democratic incumbent, likely
will be unopposed.
Neither Democrats or Republicans
have complete states for the Board of
Public Affairs. With three to be elect
ed the Democrats have two candidates
and the Republicans only one. At fill
ing time the Republicans also lacked
two candidates for council.
The tickets for the two parties at
noon Wednesday were as follows:
Democrat
Clerk-W. o. Geiger.
Sidney G. Stettler.
Council-Chester A. Stauffer, Don
Patterson, Arden r. Baker, f. Harold
Beals, Lamont H. Diller, and Frank
L. Todd.
Board of Public Affairs-F. A. Har-
mon and A. C. Burcky.
Republican
Mayor-W. A. Howe.
Treasurer. A. Thompson.
Council-Charles Alderman, Cleon
Triplett, Pail w. Stan FER and Emory
Benroth.
Board of Public Affairs-Harry F.
Barnes.
In view of the present political de-
velopments, prospects for primary
are so remote they are not calculated
in appraisals of the local situation
by political leaders.
Deadline for filing this Wednesday
night, however, will not prevent inde-
pendents from filing for the Novem-
Der election after that time.
Independents can file until 90 days
before the November election for any
candidacy on the tickets. Should any
independents file, their names will ap-
pear on the same ballot with the Dem
ocratic and Republican nominees, but
in a separate column with no party
designation at the top.
Deadline for party caucuses to Sc
lect candidates for Richland township
offices and three places on the Bluff
ton Board of Education also is 90 days
before the November election.
A change in the Ohio law, effective
for this year only, has advanced the
fling date for the primary filing to
90 days instead of so because of the
additional time required to get alb
sentee voters ballots to servicemen
overseas.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Talk On Russia
Heard By Lions

Collin Doyle, works manager of the
Gramm Motor Truck Co. in Delphos,
recommended closer cooperation be-
tween the United States and Russia
as a guarantee of World peace, at
dinner meeting of the Bluffton
Lions club Tuesday evening in the
Walnut Grill.
Speaking on "The Might of All
The Russias", Doyle recounted first
hand information about the Soviet
which he obtained during the time he
worked as an engineer in that ma
ton from 1882 to 1888.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
BLuftOn Youth
Leaves For NaUy

Harry Minck, Bluffton youth who
recently enlisted in the Navy left
Tuesday for the induction center at
Cincinnati. He is the son of Mrs.
Mabel Minck of South Lawn avenue.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Directs Operettd
At RulUsOn School

Miss Bettye Jeanne Lewis of Bluff
ton, instructor in music at the Raw
son schools will direct three act
operetta, Rip Van Winkle to be
staged by Grade school pupils in
the Rawson school building, Friday
night at 8 o'clock.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Ebenezer Broadcast

A mixed quartet directed by Milo
Lora will be heard on the Ebenezer
church radio program Sunday after
noon at $3.50 o'clock broadcast from
Findlay station WIN.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Byers Speaker At
Goshen AT1niUersary

N. E. Byers, of Kibler street, re-
turned Tuesday from Goshen, Ind,
where he was one of the speakers at
the 50th anniversary celebration of
Goshen college.
Before coming to Bluffton, he
served for Is years as president of
Goshen college.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Real Estate Deals

The 80 acre farm of the late Noah
Moser, sold at sheriff's sale, Satur-
day in settlement of the estate was
purchased by Clair Moser for s14,-
$50. The farm is located one mile
north of Beaverdam.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1945-05-03
Final High School
Broadcast Friddy

Last in the series of radio pro-
grams by Bluffton high school talent
will be broadcast from station WIN,
Findlay, Friday afternoon at lis
o'clock.