davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
Mrs. Beach
On Grand
OES Cmduan

Mrs. Downing Beach of Cogniac
Farms, London-Jefferson Pike,
who is worthy grand treasurer of
the Order of the Eastern Star, was
one of a group of grand officers
and grand representatives, who in
stituted a new Eastern Star Chap
ter at North Olmstead, Saturday.
After the ceremony a party of
20, members of the new chapter
and their guests had dinner at the
Smithville Inn, From there the
caravan of "O.E.S. Grands," took
off for Gambler, where they spent
the night in one of the dor1nitor-
les at Kenyon College. On Sunday
afternoon the caravan went on to
Mt. Vernon for the dedication of
a new Eastern Star Home.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
London Women
Compete At
Dayton Club

Miami Valley Country Club,
Dayton, had fifteen clubs on its
list for Women's Golf Invitation
al, Tuesday, the London Club be-
ing one of the seven that accept
ed the competitive challenge.
Women from Piqua, Troy,
BTookside. Columbus, Urbana,
Greenville and Eaton, completed
the list.
Prizes were offered for play by
flights, awards coming TO London
with Rheba Miller, who took Sec
ond low gross, Mrs Peter F. Lani-
gan, first low net and Mrs. Rob-
ert Johnson, second low net, all in
the first flight. The other prize
went to Mrs. George Dewey who
got second low net in the second
flight.
Others from London who went
for the day were, Mrs. F e. Sid
ener, Jr., Mrs. Matthew T. Rea,
Mrs. F! z. Sidener, Sr., Mrs. r. L.
Clancy and Miss Mary 10 Hauk.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
Flower Lovers
Show Judged

Members of the Flower Lovers
Garden Club had their annual
Flower Show in Bishop Hail. last
Friday.
Setting the scene for the show.
after a short business meeting,
Mrs. w. /. Coppock, president,
gave poem, Summer Time" be-
fore Mrs. Herman Scoffield of
South Charleston, was welcomed
and presented Mrs. Richard Hume,
to judge the entries.
Flower exhibits were noted to
be beautiful in arrangements as
well as color and members were en-
abIed to see their mistakes, if any,
through Mrs. Scoffield's pleasant
commentary as she went about her
duties of Judging.
Cooling refreshments were SER
we'd to 81 members and guests.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12

DR.. and Mrs. Paul Gaylord and
their daughters, Valerie and Rob-
in of Hamilton, spent the week
with DR.. Gaylord's sister, Mrs. Will
liam Grouse, Mr.. Grouse and their
daughter, Verlie, of 8 Columbia
Avenue.
Miss Geraldine Henry, East
Fourth Street, and Mrs. Naomi
Miller have returned from a trip
to Illinois. A part of the time they
spent in Chicago, and for several
days were guests of Mr.. and Mrs.
Harold George and their two chill
dren in Lockport. Mrs. George is
the former Lucille Felton, who was
Director of Religious Education for
Madison County several years ago.
~ ~
Mr.. and Mrs. Wallace v. Mich
OILS and their children, Vance,
Steve, Charles and Connie, East
First Street, are home from three
weeks vacation. They were guests
of Mrs. Nichols parents, Mr.. and
Mrs. George E. Bird of Western
Springs, Illinois at their summer
cottage at Shell Lake, Wisconsin.
Judge and Mrs. James F. Bell
and their children, Steve and Bet
sy, Richmond Avenue, have re-
turned from a months vacation on
which they were accompanied by
Mrs. Bells mother, Mrs. P. T. En-
gard of Marysville. Travelling
through the Badlands, Black Hills,
Glacier National Park their OBJ
jective for a week of their stay
away was in Everett, Washing
ton, where they were guests of
Mrs. Engard's son-in-law and
daughter, Mr.. and Mrs. George
Craig.
Mrs. Engard remained for
longer visit while the Bells left
coming down through Oregon to
Salt Lake City, Denver, and on to
Tulsa, Oklahoma, where they were
guests of Mr.. and Mrs. Walter. En-
gard and family, continuing their
journey home through Arkansas.
Tennessee and Kentucky. ..
~ -
Mr.. and Mrs. George Brokaw
and their children, Georganne and
David, East High Street, are home
from a weeks vacation which they
spent motoring to Washington D.
c. and Williamsburg, Virginia.
They returned via the Skyline
Drive in time for their daughter,
to take off to visit this week with
friends in Cambridge and son Da-
vid for All Camp near Clifton.
- ~
MIR and Mrs. Forrest Hanson
will spend a few days this week as
guests at the Netherlands Plaza
Hotel in Cincinnati. They plan to
attend Cinerama Holiday while Wis
iting. The Hanson daughters, GIor-
la and Beverly, are presently at
the 4-H Camp at Camp Clifton.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
Wilson-Rowe Ceremony To Be
EDent OF September Ninth

Mr. and Mrs. ]. Bryan Wilson,
Hurne-Lever Road, announce the
approaching marriage of their
daughter, Helen Elizabeth, to Rob
ert Wayne Rowe, son of Mr.. and
Mrs. Walter Rowe of 81 East Fif-
tn Street, London.
A graduate of Madison Local
High School, Miss Wilson is a jun
Tor in the College of Agriculture.
School of Home Economics, at
Ohio State University.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
RETURN FROM TOUR
OF MICHIGAN t

Mr.. and Mrs. H. Jack Scanlon,
South Main Street, are home after
a two weeks tour of the state of
Michigan. The trip was part busi-
ness and part pleasure, Mr.. Scan
Ion making many courtesy calls on
his customers in that area for the
H. L. Moore Company of Massa-
chusetts.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
SILVER ANNIVERSARY r sg
CELEBRATED At HoLLANpS

Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Holland
and the latter's aunt, Mrs Laura
Kibby, who resides with them IN
their country home On the Big
Plain Pike, entertained att dinner
Sunday evening, Mr.. and Mrs.
George c. McGhee of Williams
port. "a
A silver gift was presented the
McGhees in remenibrancetof their
silver wedding anniversary. DIR.
McGhee is a brother of Mrs Hol-
land -
a - - ge sa
Karen Rea, daughter of Mr.. ssnd
Mrs. Matthew T. Rea Mt. Sterling
Pike, is the guest this week Of Mar
tha Ward at Mt. Vernon
sx ~ < 81
: Cindy Neff. daughter Of Mr. and
. Mrs. Edwin Neff. West Center
sStreet, is visiting her grandmother,
Mrs. Walter Gard In HaIIditon.
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12

Mr.. Rowe graduated from Lon
don High School attended Cfffcs
Training School. Columbus, and b
a veteran of. World War II. Al
present he is assistant cashier OF
the West Jefferson Branch OF the
Central National Bank. ~
The open church wedding win be
an event of Friday, September the
ninth in st. Johns Lutheran
Church. ~
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12

r. the
of their daughter Eogene
and Mrs Edward Reed also of London r.
3.
London High School, employed with
Insurance Company in Columbus
Monroe High School, is veteran of
u employed the Ohio
Bell Telephone Company of Columbus. .s-. 81.
the church
Union
Madison County Democrat. (London, Ohio) 19??-1958, 1955-08-12
County Couple
Are Wed By
Req LoOeless

A quiet wedding ceremony was
observed Sunday morning at $50
O'Clock when Mrs. Elizabeth Shep-
herd of Mt Sterling, and George
Adkins, of Five Points, were mar
ried In the home of the Reverend
and Mrs. w. w. LovelesS, 147
Chandler Avenue. The couple was
unattended.
The bride conducts Beauty Sa-
Ion in Mt. Sterling, while the
bridegroom is prosperous farm
er near Five Points, where he and
the new Mrs. Adkins will be at
home on their return from a mo-
tor trip to Niagara Falls and
other places in the East.
- ~
Mrs. Jessie Street, former resi-
dent of Madison County, who has
been residing in Columbus for a
number of years, left this week for
an indefinite stay at the home of
her sister, Mrs. w. 0. Weir, North
ridge, West, Ashtabula.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Sam StepIetOn Sells Out;
Ends 55 Yr. Business Career

rowed capital he purchased an in
terest in the Hotel Barber Shop al
though he had never cut a head of
hair in his life.
II practiced on some of the Gus
toners who were not too particular" !"
Sam recalls with a smile.
During the oil boom days of the
early 1900's, Mr.. Stepleton left bar
bering to operate a restaurant with
Mrs. Stepleton. 1t was located in a
frame building where C. F. Mis-
wander & Son now have the farm
implement shop.
From then on, Sam was in and
out of several businesses, all con-
nected in some way with entertain
ment and recreation. He operated
a billiard hall-the first in town
for a time in the candy Owens
Room" where Marshall & Bixel are
now located. When he sold out
there, he went into the theatre busi-
Continued On Page 10)
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
DIR. John ]. Sutter,
One OF Hospitals
Founders Dies At 81
Former BlufftOnite Served
As Health Officer OF
Two Counties

Final rites were held in the Ba-
singer funeral home Sunday after
noon for DR.. John ]. Suffer, 81, re-
tired physician of Lakeside, OhiD,
who practiced medicine here for
many years and was one of the
founders of Bluffton Community
hospital.
He died Friday in Lima Memorial
hospital after an illness of several
months. DIR. Herbert Thompson,
manager of the Lakeside associatio4,
and DR.. Ira Jones officiated at the
services with burial IN Maple Grove
cemetery.
DR.. Suffer was born in Putnam
county. He was graduated from the
old Eclectic Medical College in Gin
cinnati and then returned to Blufftsn
to practice here for q years. It
was during that time that he was
active in helping TO organize the
Bluffton Community hospital.
DR.. Sutter maintained an office in
a building at the corner of Main
and College avenue which later be-
came the first Bluffton hospital. It
was later razed and the Sinclair serv-
ice station built at the site.
From 1916 to 1918 DIR. Sutter also
served as mayor of the village Of
Bluffton.
From 1920 to 1885 Dr.. Sutter was
health commissioner of Allen county
and lived in Lima. After leaving
there he was an instructor at the
Eclectic Medical college and treasur-
er of the institution until 1887, when
he moved to Wayne county. He was
health commissioner of Wayne
county and the city of Wooster from
1897 until 1916.
After his retirement, he moved to
Lakeside in 1850, where he was
member of the Methodist church. He
was also a Fellow of the National
Public Health association.
DR.. Sutter is survived by his wife,
the former Susanne Lugibihl, by
three daughters, Mrs. Raymond
Stratton, Bluffton; Mrs. Carl EvaRs,
Sandusky and Mrs. Larry Miller Of
Lima, and a brother, Joseph, d
Wichita, Kans There are four grand
children and four great grand
children.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Tractor And Tools
Destroyed By Fire
At GOSsard Place
Sunday Morning Blaze Dam
age Is Estimated At
$4,000 BY Fire Chief

A farm tractor and a large
quantity of used auto and tractor
parts and tools were destroyed by
fame Sunday morning when fire of
undetermined origin broke out in a
garage adjoining the residence of Mr.
and Mrs. Eugene Gossard on Route
25, about a quarter mile south of the
Nickel Plate railroad crossing.
The residence, at one time used as
a service station and garage, is on
the farm operated by GossaIFs
father, Myrel.
Bluffton Fire Chief Guy Corson
estimated the loss at about $4,000
In addition to the loss of machinery
and tools, the garage was badly dam
aged and part of the adjoining resi-
dence.
The Bluffton department was sum
moned at IL a. m. by mctorist who
passed the scene of the fire and was
asked to turn in the alarm. The Cos
sards do not have telephone.
When the local fremen arrived
they found the fire well underway
Water in the new tank truck was
sufficient to extinguish the blaze anc
probably saved the remainder of the
building Fire Chief Corson said.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Home From TUO Years In India, County
Agent To Lecture Here Sunday Evening

First hand information on recently
liberated India from the viewpoint of
one of our own local county agricul-
tural agents, who has returned from
a two-year stay in that country, will
be offered Bluffton area residents
Sunday evening at the First Presby-
terian church.
Donald E. Zehr, Celina, Mercer
county agricultural extension agent,
will speak here at the invitation of
the Junior High Westminster Fellow
ship group on the subject: India =
Ancient, Modern and Challenging"
Mr.. Zehr, who is reported to be in
great demand as speaker since his
return from India, spent two years
in that country with the u. S. Foreign
Operations Administration, formerly
the Point-4 or Technical Cooperation
Administration.
Assigned for work in the states of
Travencore-Cochin and later in Uttar
Prades, Mr.. Zehr and his family first
lived just eight degrees above the
equator and then in the shadows of
the towering Himalaya mountains.
His duties were to advise Indian of
ficials on methods of carrying out
training program for agricultural ex-
tension workers and community pro-
iects. His work covered projects in
800 villages.
A graduate of Purdue university
with additional work at the Univer-
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17

Sam Stepleton racked up the balls
on his two pool tables and put away
the cues at his recreation hall for
the last time this week.
After 35 years in his Main street
billiard hall and SIS years altogether
as Bluffton businessman, Sam has
sold out to a younger man, Charles
Swank.
His retirement at II will remove
from the Main street scene, Bluff
tons oldest businessman. Although
Druggist Edgar Hauenstein is his
closest rival, Sam remembers when
he was operating his own Hotel Bar
Der Shop Edgar was working for his
father in the drug store. Sans shop
was located on the second floor of
the Zanna Staater building at Main
and Church.
A farm boy from Paulding coun-
ty, Stepleton came to Bluffton with
his parents and worked at first in
the stone quarry. With $500 of bor-
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17

survey proposed by DR.. Howard w.
Raids Bluffton college class in mar
keting. The class has volunteered
its services to the Bluffton Business
mems association.
At the next meeting of the associa-
tion set for Wednesday evening,
February %, in the Founders Hall
lounge, the proposal will be dis
cussed.
Involved in the study would be the
preparation for the first time of a
trade area map which would include
parts of the four counties surround
ing Bluffton within a IL mile radius
Copies of the maps would be furnish
ed each retail business firm in town.
Store personnel would then plot the
residences of their customers on their
maps from day to day over 4 des-
ignated period of time.
DIR. Raid said that it might be pos
sible to provide assistance in plotting
the customers during the busy hours
of Saturday At other times, the
work would be done by members Of
the store staff.
At the completion of the study
period, DIR. Raids class would as
semble all of the marked maps and
eompile the findings onto one master
map. This would show graphically
just where Bluffton customers come
from. 1t would show any logical
trade territory which has not been
properly developed. It would pro-
vide target for business promotion
plans in the future, he points out.
Although market studies of this
type are common in individual bust
ness firms, DR.. Raid said that he was
not familiar with any studies made
along this line for an entire COM
munity.
In addition to the value of such a
study to the entire association, it was
pointed out that the survey would be
Of value to each individual retail
store participating. The study could
cover as much time for the individual
business as is considered best accord
ing to the nature of that business.
The value of good map of the
three-county area surrounding Bluff
ton is also being considered. Once
the map is completed, it should serve
numerous purposes.
The proposed market study will be
explained in detail at the next meet
ing of the association, and a large
attendance is urged.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Births

The following births were recorded
at Bluffton Community hospital dur
ing the past week:
Mr.. and Mrs. Harold Miller, Col
Grove, boy, Joseph Lee, born last
Wednesday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Robert Bonhard, Mt
Cory, a girl, Dorinda Lynne, born last
Thursday.
Mr.. and Mrs. Harold Johnston, Nc
Comb, a girl, Kathryn Ann, born
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. John A. Stanton, Jr.
Continental, a girl, Cheryl Anne, born
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Hugus, Jr.
Rawson, a girl, Lisa Anne, born
Sunday.
Mr.. and Mrs. James Ewing, Edger.
ton, boy, Douglas Randolph, borr
at Bryan hospital, February 8. Grand.
parents are Mr.. and Mrs. Lawrence
Buess, Mt. Blanchard and Mr.. anc
Mrs. Malcolm Ewing, Bluffton, Rt.
Mr. and Mrs. Francis A. McCarth,
(Rosella Moser), Norfolk, Va, a boy
Daniel Edward, born February 9 a
Portsmouth Navel hospital, Ports
mouth, Virginia.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Sunday Canvass
VIII Appeal For
The Heart Fund

Bluffton's first organized drive
for the Heart Fund will be
launched Sunday afternoon by
members of the Business and Pro-
fessional Women's club under
Craftsmanship of Mrs. Kenneth
Basinger.
With a goal of $3.50 to meet,
women of the club will make a
house to house appeal Sunday
which has been nationally pro-
claimed as "Heart Sunday.
The only other method of rails
ing money for the Heart Fund
is the little red heart-shaped con-
tainers which are displayed in
the local retail stores, Mrs. Ba-
singer said. She emphasized the
fact that all proceeds of the drive
go for the purpose of research.
None is spent on individual cases.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Coach Mast Acquires
BLufftOn Residence

Kenneth Mast, head football, bas--
ketball and track coach at Bluffton
college has purchased the Russell
Montgomery home on N. Jackson
street and will take occupancy around
the first of next week.
Coach Mast, his wife and two sons,
have been residing on the Harley Van
Meter farm near Rockport. The Mont
gomery family is leaving the first of
the week for McAllen, Texas, where
they will make their home.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17

Next week in Fort Wayne, Ind,
320 students and their teachers, and
in the four corners of the earth sew
eral thousand alumni of the Fort
Wayne Bible college will join in the
celebration of the golden anniversary
of their alma mater.
They will not forget that even be-
fore 80 years ago the now famous
religious school had established it's
roots for a decade as the Bethany
Bible Institute.
Old timers will recall the Bethany
Home and Bethany Bible Institute
when they were located at the cor
ner of Main street and West Kibler.
The rambling residence is now own
ed by Mr.. and Mrs. Gid Steiner and
Mr.. and Mrs. OlivSr Zimmerman.
Some still know it asl the Biederman
apartments.
Bethany Home was leAblishA at
the Main street locatidh b III 1889 Nby
Mr.. and Mrs. B. P. Ipkifhl Jas a
home for "the sick and ppArebsedK
1t had always been Mr. Lsgbihl'A
contention that the churdh had taken
on too much the asp&d of the
school; it's purpose could best be
accomplished in the atmosphere of
the home.
Healing BY Faith
Mrs. Lugibihl, herself, had been
systematically healed of compli-
cation of disease" by faith and thus
Bethany Home was to minister to
the physical ills by meeting the spir-
itual needs.
For six years the Bluffton Home
was a spiritual retreat "out of the
smoky cities into the balmy fresh air
of the country" Then the Luigi
bihl's saw new need. They had just
returned from mission work in Cleve-
land. Trained workers were badly
needed in the mission field.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
New Grain Storage Facilities Help Boost
Farmers Grain Co. Earnings TO New High

Directsrs and Officer of the Fak
mers Grain Co. REMAND ID unchanged
following the recent al pual meetink
Of stockhk lders when fPf resident Clyde
Warren epoFteA the 7 highest net
Earning AtA co-operative's history.
I MArren was reelected president
with Sidney Huber secretary and
Eldon Tschiegg, manager and treas
urer. Mr.. Huber and Melvin Zim-
merly were reelected directors, and
hold-over directors are Levi Althaus,
Harry Anderson, Roy Rogers, Fred
Muller and Mr.. Warren.
Noting that the erection of the
new elevators had aided considerably
in increasing the conapany's earn
ings, Mr.. Warren reported the earn
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Metropolitan
Baritone To Sing
Here Wednesday
College Concert GOers
Have Unusual Treat In Store
In Robert McFerrin

When Bluffton concert goers hear
Baritone Robert McFerrin next We'd
nesday evening in Ramseyer Chapel,
they will be listening to young man
who only 20 days earlier made his
debut as leading baritone and regular
member of the Metropolitan Opera
company.
McFerrin's stroke of good fortune
was also a stroke of luck for the local
audience since as a concert attraction
the artist would be beyond the
modest Bluffton College budget for
its annual series.
The young negro's dramatic emer-
gency from obscurity to celebrity
status is the staff of which legends
are made.
Unlike many gifted members of his
race, McFerrin stayed in America,
foregoing Europe and its broader op-
portunities. He was awarded several
scholarships; he won every contest he
entered; he gave magnificent per-
formances with the New England and
National Negro Opera companies, yet
he had received no commercial en-
couragement and little recognition.
His rise started in the spring of
1853 when he entered the Metropoli-
ton Opera Additions of the Air and
swept into the finals as winner. Then
followed his first season of nation
wide concerts. Last year, still with
out fanfare or fame, he began to
take his place as one of the worlds
greatest living baritones. His debut
last month as Amonasro in Verdi's
Aida clinched his success.
McFerrin is the first colored singer
of his generation to sing in the Met
ropolitan Opera company, and the
first altogether to be engaged on a
repertory basis.
"You will be hearing one of the
greatest young singers alive" says
Professor Russell A. Lantz, who
proudly announced his good fortune
in being able to bring McFerrin to
Bluffton.
OF McFerrin's debut on the Met
ropolitan stage a critic for the New
York Herald Tribune said: Robert
McFerrin =. gave an impression of
musical and dramatic understanding
in a characterization that was indi-
vidual while faithful to the require
ments of the role of the captive
Ethiopian monarch There was
clarity in voice that mad a good
range of color, and whose use gave
sense of musicianship."
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17
Businessmen Spend
S633 On Christmas
Season Promotion

Christmas promotions of the
BlufftOn Business Mems associa-
ton including two visits by Santa
Claus, the Treasure Hunt and
street decorations cost the ass0-S
citation a total of $633.60 this
year, a report recently completed
by the committee shows.
The street lighting accounted
for $264.77 of the total. includ-
ed in this amount was $77.1O for
electric power and $105 labor
cost of putting up the lights and
taking them down by the Ohio
Power company. In previous
years, this service was provided
without cost by the municipal
light and power plant.
Two visits by Santa and the
cost of treats passed out to the
youngsters cost another $77.36.
The Treasure Hunt promotion
cost was $257.67. Sale of treasure
hunt tickets to the merchants
raised 5000 of the costs.
The Bluffton news. [volume] (Bluffton, Ohio) 1875-current, 1955-02-17

sity of Wisconsin, Mr.. Zehr has been
on the staff of OSU as county agri-
cultural extension agent for Mercer
county since 1947. He served recent
ly as a resource leader for the Reli-
gion-In-Life Week program at OSU.
Mr. Zehr's lecture is open to the
public, and a free will offering will
be turned over to the Christian Rural
Overseas Program for "Plows for
India. The agency has established a
factory in that country to manufac-
ture more modern steel plows to re-
place inefficient handmade wooden
tools used by the Indians for genera
tions.