davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-19

WILLIAM HALE tNICK). A
tmAe loving tribute in memory of my
S husband. WILLIAM HALE (NICK)
l CARTER, on his birthday, May
Soldier, rest! Thy warfare DER.
Dream of fighting fields no more;
Sleep the sleep that knows no breaking
Morn OF toll, nor night of waking.
ROSE . 3
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-19

Attest: L. M. YOUNG, Secretary.
RUFFNER, JOSEPH 1. On Thursday; May
L. RuFFNER. beloved son Of Jordan and
Beulah Ruftner, brother of Mrs. Mable
also is survived BY three aunts. two
and a host of friends. Remains may be
viewed after 5 pm, Friday, May 10, at
Barnes & Matthews Funeral Home. ola
at pm, from the sylvan Baptist
Church, 8Oth ST., Fairmont Heights, Md.
Interment Paynes Cemetery.
SHELTON, NATHANIEL M. On THURSDAY,
May II, 1882 a. GeSrE e., Westminster vMiSd
sa.Ssna Of p Ssa Ssa Il NV sseSse
viving are three sisters, Mrs. Mary Maye
Of Danville. va: Mrs. Minnie Rogers and
Miss Gabrella shelton. both Of New York;
va S M .ns soss4 Shelton m 81 2
va. From 8 Pm. to 10 pm. Saturday.
May 20. friends are invited to call at
the MCGUIRE Funeral Home, 1890 9th st.
Va, on Monday, May 2s. 90
SMITH. WILBUR. Departed this life We'd
p pss WILBUR Mas SMITH sfT Sotse Of fs
neral later ARRANGEMENTS by the Hall
| Bros Funeral Home, 621 Florida ave. NV.
suMPTER, WADE: On "wednesday, May
S.1oted s8 wife. one dasshter. ONE sister
| one brother and.a host OF other relative;
and friends. Remains may be viewet
Friday, May 10: after 8 pm: At WIN VIM
! viii be held saturdsy. May 90. at j. m
Interment In Payne's Cemetery.
Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-05-19

GEORGE r. 1BUBY5. In low
ing memory of our dear son and brother,
GEORGE r. tRUBY) WORMLEY. who de-
parted this life twelve years ago, May
19. 1898.
Well wait for Gods own time to lift
the cross we bear, to meet you.
Love makes memory eternal.
TIERS AND BROTHERS.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

link in the narrow-gauge was laid
between Delphos and Carey was due
to the fact that the community had
$4,000 to lay on the line according
to the story told by local old-timers.
Promoters of the narrow gauge
line, known as the Cleveland, Delphos
and st. Louis Railroad Co., learned
that Bluffton had a group of civic
minded boosters who had raised the
$4,000, a considerable amount in
those days, to attract an industry
here.
In an effort to get the money, in
exchange for the railroad, the pro-
moters offered to swerve the line
south to Bluffton, altho a direct
route from Delphos to Carey would
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Church OF Christ
Women Meet Here

DR.. Lester King, Ohio field repre-
sentative of "The Crusade for a
Christian World" will address a joint
meeting of the Christian Women's
Fellowship of Bluffton and Beaver
dam Churches of Christ Thursday
night at 1880 o'clock at the home
of Mrs. Swan Stonehill, 129 E. Elm
street.
Beaverdam women will be guests
of the Bluffton Fellowship at the
meeting.
The crusade is three-year pro-
gram, started in 1947, by the Dis
ciples of Christ, to help rebuild
world evangelism, education, steward
ship, missions, world relief, recon-
struction and order.
Assisting Mrs. Stonehill as hostess
for the meeting this Thursday will
be Mrs. Harry Ewing and Mrs.
Corda Ryan.
Special music will be provided by
Mrs. Don Martz, soprono soloist,
and Mrs. Roy Rogers, piano soloist.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Farmers are Busy Cutting Wood for Fuel
Unable to Locate Blufton Physician
to Inform Him Of His Fathers Death

DR.. NJ. D. Soash, Bluffton physician
and Mrs. Soash on an extended
motor trip thru the southwest and
into Mexico, are objects of wide
spread search this week following
the unexpected death of the doctors
father, Eber j. Soash, 50, resident of
Weston, Wood county, who died at
that place Saturday.
All efforts to contact the Bluffton
physician and his wife to inform
them of the death were unsuccessful
up until Wednesday noon, it was re-
ported, however, attempts will con-
tinue to be made to locate them.
Meanwhile funeral services for the
elder Soash will be held at the Croll
Funeral Home in nearby Tontogany,
Thursday afternoon at o'clock with
burial in Weston cemetery.
Enroute to Mexico City
DR.. and Mrs. Soash left two weeks
ago to be gone for an indefinite time,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Laymen's Service At
NJ. E. Church Sunday

Annual laymen's day will be OBJ
served at the Methodist church in
service Sunday morning at 1890
o'clock, it is announced by the pas
tor, Rev. Paul Cramer.
Forrest Steinman, lay leader, will
be in charge and A. j. B. Longs
dorf will speak on the subject "A
Layman's Faith"
Others taking part in the service
will be Edgar Cook giving the call
to worship; Myron Meyer, affirma-
tion Of faith; Nelson Steiner, pray
er; James West, scripture lesson.
Music will be directed by Richard
Davies, conductor of the mems
chorus, with Robert Artman organ
list and violin offertory number by
Eugene Szabo.
Ushers will be Albert Augsburger,
Stewart Berryhill, Garnet Foltz and
Don Augsburger.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
LONG NEGLECTED
WOODL0TS HUM
WITH ACTIVITY
Wood Providing Means of Heat
ing Many Homes i'm Bluffton
Area
Modern Portable Saws and
Tractors Eliminate Much
i Hard Work

Farm woodlots which for a gen.
Grafton have been neglected as a
source of fuel this winter have be-
come the scene of busy activity as
the farmers answer to high prices
for coal and the problem of uncer-
tain supply.
In the return to the farm prac-
tees of yesteryear, wholesale "buzz-
ing" of wood is under way in the
woodlots and taken to farm homes
to be used as fuel. 1t is cut in the
old familiar style for base burner
use, but something new has been
added in more modern homes where
huge chunks of wood are burned in
furnaces.
Although a lot of wood is being
cut on farms this winter, virtually
none is finding its way into towns
where many residents, short on coal
would be glad to obtain it as a
hedge against more critical short
ages of fuel.
Very little of this winters cutting
of wood is for sale to town residents,
other than those who in the past
have purchased it for burning in
their freplaces.
Present coal prices at S14 a tor
average, and prospects of still high
er retail marks seen in present coal
mine labor negotiations have result
ed in a situation in which wood is
much cheaper than coal.
Modern farm equipment, including
the portable power saw and gasoline
powered tractor has eliminated much
of the heavy work of wood cutting
encountered generation ago. Also
the present open winter has made it
possible to work in the woodlots
and the buzzing of wood during the
winter, period of slack activity on
the farm, provides a profitable en-
ployment of spare time in view of
current coal costs.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Householders arned to Save
Fuel as Dealers Bins
Are Bare
Trickle of Coal Trucked from
Non-union Mines Only In
coming Supply

Buttons overall coal situation,
which was generally regarded as
week ago has definite
ly taken a turn for the worse as
the coal situation over the nation
frightened this week with no pros
poets of relief in the immediate fu-
ture.
Action on an order issued early
this week by the board of public af-
fairs for blackout of all Bluffton
street lighting because of the ma
tional coal emergency was later post
poned awaiting further developments
in the strike situation.
The order of the board made pub
lie Monday was originally scheduled
to 60 into effect this Wednesday
night at 10 o'clock. At an informal
of board members and
John Swisher, plant superintendent
held Tuesday night it was decided
to postpone action until next week.
Announcement of the change in
plans was made following the con-
ference by Forrest L. Steinman,
board president.
Although there is no immediate
at the municipal plant,
which has about a three to four
weeks supply of coal on hand, cur
tailment of services, including street
lighting, may be put into effect early
next week unless there is a change
for the better in the national picture,
Steinman said.
Continued on page 10Y
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
ADDED TAX LEVY
EASES SCHOOL
FINANCES HERE
Effects of Three Mill Levy
Voted Last Fall Now Being
Apparent
Progress is Being Made by
School Board i'm Paying Past
Due Bills

With financial pressure alleviated
by additional funds voted last fall
in the passage of an additional three
mill school levy, Bluffton public
schools for the first time in years
show promise of getting out of the
red"
In sounding an optimistic note on
the school financial picture, Supt.
Aaron B. Murray pointed out that
past due bills in the amount of
$4,000 have been whitfield down to
$500 since the additional three-mill
levy was voted last fall.
At the same time, he announced
thet sufficient funds are on hand to
pay off all the outstanding school
building bonds voted in 1881, and no
further levies will be required for
the retirement of bonded indebted
ness.
BRIGHTER PICTURE
Both developments pressage a
brighter course dHedQ Luz Tie IonS-
troubled public school financial pic
ture here, for all outstanding bond
ed Indebtedness is being retired right
at the time that headway finally is
being made in clearing up the deficit
status of general operating expenses.
In cutting down the $4,000 total
of past due bills since last fall, the
board of education obtained an ad-
vance draw of tax money from the
county auditors office, a move which
enabled the payment of $1,000 on
overdue accounts.
Continued on page 10)
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Lenten Season In Preparation For
Easter Begins This Ash Wednesday

Opening of the Lenten season, in
preparation for Easter, began this
Wednesday in an observance known
in the religious world as Ash We'd
nesday.
The Lenten period is fast of 4O
week days observed by the Roman
Catholic church and many of the
Protestant denominations. 1t was
not until 1910 that the date was
fixed for the fast to start on Ash
Wednesday and to continue through
Holy Saturday.
The name Ash Wednesday has a
general reference to the penitential
sackcloth and ashes so frequently
spoken of in the Old Testament. In
the Roman church there is rite OBJ
served on this day in which the
priest places ashes on the forehead
of the communicates as they kneel
at the altar rail.
AS he does this he says, "Me-
mento, homo, quiva pulvis es, ct in
pulverem reverteris" Remember,
man thou art dust, and unto dust
thou shalt retaurn.) The ashes are
obtained by burning palm branches
consecrated in the church on the
Palm Sunday of the year previous.
Gradually it came to be the Gus
tom of friends and relatives to man.
ifest their humility by joining the
penitents, expressing a similar con-
triton in their outward guise and
offering their foreheads for the
ashes.
In time the number grew so large
that it was made necessary to ad-
minister the ashes to the whole con-
gregation in a single rite, the form
used at the present time.
Ash Wednesday was not always
included within the Lenten period.
In the fifth and sixth centuries Lent
began with the succeeding Sunday
and lasted six weeks. Omitting Sun
day this would be 36 days. The ad-
dition of four days to this period
makes the fast exactly 40 days in
duration and therefore accords with
the fast of Jesus as well as the
fasts of Moses and Elias.
The use of ashes in the ceremony
has generally been discontinued since
the reformation. The entire Chris
tian world, however, starts the Len
ten celebration on this Ash We'd
nesday even though the form of the
celebration varies in the different
religious groups.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
fatal HEAD-ON
CRASH NORTH OF
TOWN ON DIXIE
Woodville MotOrist Is Almost
Instantly Killed i'm Ac-
cident
Trucks Involved i'm Three Other
Mishaps on Route 25
In Area

The fourth accident in less than a
month involving a truck either in
Bluffton or the immediate vicinity
on the Dixie highway last Wednes-
day night resulted in the death of a
Woodville motorist and hospitalized
two other persons.
Scene of the fatal crash was four
miles northeast of town on the Dixie
where passenger car was involved
in near head-on collision with a
pickup truck.
Preceding last Wednesdays mishap,
there had been three other accidents
involving trucks, all on Buttons
Main street over which Dixie high
way traffic travels, since last Jan.
20.
Motorist Killed
Almost instantly killed in last
weeks crash was Thomas Johnson,
10, of Woodville.
His brother, William, 81, was re-
moved by Diller ambulance to Bluff
ton Community hospital with 1acera-
tions of the face and right leg. He
was released Friday. Harry Foote,
so, of Delphi, Ind, driver of the
truck was taken by Basinger ambul-
ance to Findlay hospital.
The fatally injured Woodville
driver is believed to have died before
he was extricated from his car by
passing motorits. He had been PIN
ned beneath the crumpled steering
wheel and suffered a crushed chest,
internal hemorrhages and fractured
left hip, according to DR.. r. E. Nell
son, Hancock County coroner.
Both vehicles were knocked off the
highway in the mishap, and the ac-
cident victims brother was found in
the south ditch. Foote was lying
outside his truck in the north ditch.
Continued on page 10Y
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

with Mexico City as their destina-
ton. However, they planned to make
an undetermined number of stops
enroute and left no itinerary of their
route.
Efforts to locate them are being
made by their son Evan Soash, head
of the schools in Alger and Miss
Edith Reeder, former office nurse of
DR.. Soash who is living at the Soash
residence on South Main street dur
ing their absence.
>Telegrams addressed to Mexico
city hotels and other possible stop
ping places along the route have
failed to locate them and highway
patrols in New Mexico where they
were expected to spend some time
have been alerted to keep lookout
for the car.
No attempt was made to contact
them by radio broadcast as friends
here said the couple seldom tune in
the radio set in their car.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

WdpdkOnetd Man
Buys City Market

Joe urich of Wapakoneta pur-
chased the Bluffton City Market,
South Main street grocery store
from Joel and Ezra Basinger in a
deal closed over the week end.
Urich, who was formerly connect
ed with a wholesale grocery concern
has taken over management of the
store. He will be assisted in oper-
alton of the place by his son Ken
meth. He expects to move his fam
lily here as soon az housing accom-
modations are available.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
LITTLE CHANGE IN
PROSPECT ON area
FARMS THIS SPRING
Farm Owners and Tenants
Sitting Tight" as March
First Nears
Modern Farming Makes Possible
Cultivation of Larger
Tracts of Land

With most farm owner-occupants
and tenants remaining in present To-
cations this spring, the traditional
March l moving date for farm fami-
lies will find few changes being made
in farm occupancy next week.
One of the principal indications
that anyone with a place to stay is
remaining there is seen in the fact
that the number of farm sales this
winter have been less than usual
This situation means that few
changes in locations will be made at
the time when the farm year tradi-
tionally begins.
Public sales always provide an
accurate barometer of farm changes,
for most Of them come either when
a renter is moving from location
and dissolving partnership with his
landlord, or when the owner of a
farm sells out, preparatory to retir-
ing and moving into town.
STAY ON FARM
More and more farmers at retir-
ing age are staying right on the
farm these days, because high-priced
city properties represent an uncer-
tain investment to anyone who has
a home where he can remain.
At the same time, the retiring
farmer has no worries about keep
ing his land in cultivation, for in
these days of mechanized farming
there always is neighbor looking
for additional acreage.
With farm prices at lower levels,
the tendency now is for farmers to
remain in their present locations,
handling with their own labor as
much land as they can, and to hire
little or no help. All agree that the
high cost of farm labor is out of
line with the declining prices of
farm products, thereby ruling out
the possibility of farmers hiring
much help during the coming year.
FEWER TENANTS
In the meantime, tenants are con-
tinuing to find it difficult to make
farming connections, a continuation
of trend in evidence in this Sec
tion for more than decade.
Increasing mechanization of farm
ing practices now makes it possible
for one man to farm as much as
200 acres, so tenant farmers each
spring find fewer farms to rent and
are worried by the trend which
Continued on page 10Y
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

have passed north of Bluffton, near
Mt. Cory.
When the deal finally went thru.
the line was not built any farther
south than absolutely necessary, for
to this day it passes thru Bluffton
just inside the northern limits of the
village.
Complications entered the picture
in the initial stages due to the fact
that Henry Lehr, who later founded
Ohio Northern university at Ada,
wanted to establish normal school
in Bluffton, also in exchange for the
$4,000 kitty.
Choose Railroad
Early Bluffton residents therefore
had to decide between the railroad
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

and college, and at public meet
ing the majority favored transporta-
tion as preferable to higher educa-
tion.
The decision was a reflection of
the educational needs of those times
when the 3-Rs were about all the
book learning needed. Outside of
the preacher, the doctor, an occasion
al lawyer and few teachers no one
went in for extensive education, and
early Bluffton saw no sense in
building a college.
Railroads, however, We're differ
ent matter. Steam transportation
was just the thing for the up-and-
coming community, for over it live
stock could be shipped, mail would
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

be carried and merchandise would
reach the town in hurry. And so
the railroad won.
In the light of subsequent events,
Bluffton lost neither transportation
nor higher education, for Is years
later the Central Mennonite college
was established here, an institution
which has grown into the Bluffton
college of today.
At the same time, the narrow
gauge railroad was experiencing an
interesting sequence of events. The
line became 1insolvent four years
after its start, and in 1890 it was
sold to Cleveland interests.
At this time it was changed to
standard gauge railroad according to-
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

line built in 1907 to connect with the
w. and L. E. at Mogodore outside
Akron. In 1920 the A. C. and Y.
acquired the lease of the Northern
Ohio, taking over the entire system.
Bankruptcy of both the A. C. and
Y. and the Northern Ohio in 1888
was followed by reorganization in
1914, approved by the United States
Supreme court.
Since then nearly two million dol
lars has been invested in the proper
ty and equipment to make the A. C.
and Y. one of the most modern and
efficient short lines in the nation.
Seven fuel-oil diesels are in opera
tion on the line. q mark of the
forward-looking plans OF the road.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Wins High Rating
In Citizenship Test

Jane Riser, Bluffton high school
senior, was rated in the top one per
cent of LILA Ohio senior high school
girls who took the D. A. r. Good
Citizenship test last month.
The test is sponsored by Daugh-
ters of the American Revolution thru
the division of scholarship tests of
the state department of education.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Order for B1ac1<out Of Street Lights
Awaits Developments i'm Coal Crisis
Births

The following births at Bluffton
hospital:
Mr.. and Mrs. Leroy Crow, Pan
dora, a GIRL Rosine Lee, February
13.
Mr.. and Mrs. Joe Bronson, Bluff
ton, boy, Kenneth Joe, last Thurs
day.
Mr.. and Mrs. Dale Reichenbach
Bluffton, girl, Mona Lou, last
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Richard Savieo
North Baltimore, girl, Patricia
Lee, Friday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Oliver Beach, Jr.,
Arlington, a girl, Nancy Luanne
Sunday.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Board to Act Unless Relief
is in Sight by End Of Week
Observe World Day
Of Prayer Friday

World Day of Prayer will be OBJ
served by Bluffton churches in a
union service at the Methodist
church, Friday afternoon at 200
o'clock.
Mrs. Millen Geiger will preside at
the meeting and appearing on the
program will be Mrs. Ralph Stearns,
Mrs. Sidney Hauenstein, Mrs. Elmer
Burkholder, Mrs. Edwin Amstutz,
Mrs. Emma Studler, Mrs. Merrill
Boggs and Mrs. Harry Yoder.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

Operating thru Bluffton since 1882,
the A. C. and Y. railroad has had a
checkered history since starting as a
narrow-gauge railway, changing IN
the nineties to standard gauge and
surviving bankruptcy in 1888 to be-
come one of the nations most
modern and efficient "short liness' in
the United States.
A history of the origin and devel-
opment of the line which appears IN
the current issue of the A. C.. &c Y.
NeWs circulated among the rail
roads personnel, recalled here an
all-but-forgotten incident of about TO
years ago.
The fact that Bluffton got on the
railroad back In 1892 when the FIRST
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Honor Student Nurses
In Camping Exercises

Mr.. and Mrs Erwin Hartman and
family attended Gaping exercises
held for the student nurse class of
Memorial hospital, Friday night of
which their daughter Donna was a
member.
Mr.. and Mrs. Frederick Lauriat of
kibler street attended Gaping exer-
cises Friday evening for the student
nurses class of Flower hospital, To-
ledo, of which their daughter NAL
bea was member. Others from
here attending were Misses Sara
Badertscher and Margaret Groman,
Mrs. Coletta Mullenhour and w. o.
Geiger.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23

Chas. B. Kaufman, of North Main
street who for many years was
section boss on the railroad. He has
since retired.
Several years later it was incor-
porated with another railroad build
ing between Akron and Carey, and
the A. c. and Y. route of today
took its final shape by 1898 when
the road was sold to new company.
Northern Ohio Organized
This new building company, the
Northern Ohio Railway Co., in 1895
leased the entire property to the
Lake Erie and Western for period
of 999 years.
The A. c. and Y, present owner
of the system, originally was short
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Drizzling Rain Turns
Into Coating OF Ice

A drizzling rain which froze as it
Cell, coated streets and highways
with glare of ice Wednesday morn
ing. Motorists who left their cars
standing outside found windshields
covered with quarter-inch thick sheet
of ice.
Continuous traffic over the Dixie
highway slowed travel but the road
way was in fairly good condition.
Side roads, however, were icy and
made the exercise of caution neces-
sary to avoid skidding.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Boy Scout Fund
DriUe Nets $3.50

Solicitation campaign to raise
funds for the Bluffton oBy Scout
program netted $35625 on Tuesday,
opening day Of the drive.
Goal in the campaign was set at
$3.50, and the drive is expected to go
over the top for the solicitation
Tuesday night was only about 1870
completed, it was announced by Rev.
Y. c. Oppermann, chairman,
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1950-02-23
Y-Teens Hold Church
Service Sunday Night

Y-Teens of Bluffton high school
will sponsor a union service at the
First Mennonite church, Sunday
night at 7:30 o'clock.
Rev. Warren Powell of the Pan
dora Methodist church will be the
speaker and the Y-Teen Girls will
provide special music.