William JORDAN, an aged and respected citizen, of Coopersburg, shocked the community in which he resided, by committing suicide on Thursday noon. Mr. JORDAN has of late been subject to spells of melancholy induced by being compelled by age, to retire from the activities of life, but was about as usual on Thursday, but at noon he was missed when summoned for dinner. An immediate search was instituted and his lifeless body was found hanging on the second floor of his son's carpenter shop about two squares from his own house. Deceased was a man of prominence during his years of activing. He was a well known contractor and builder, his specialty being church steeples. He was a prominent member in the councils of his party. He was postmaster of Coopersburg during the administration of Cleveland and at different times held borough offices. The coroner of Lehigh county was notified, but on investigation decided an inquest unnecessary. Mr. JORDAN had attained the age of 77 years and is survived by his wife, who is almost blind, and two sons and two daughters.
Burglars are becoming a very common thing at Palm. On Saturday night all the milk of John MOYER was stolen from their milk house. On Monday night a call was made at the barn of J.W. BUTZ, and at the little barber shop of William HOFFMAN. A number of trifling articles such as hats, caps and some children's clothing were missing the following morning. Later in the night Mr. BUTZ was arouse d from his sleep by the barking of the dogs of H.Z. HEIST and N.H. LEESER.
When he took a peep from his bed room window he noticed someone walking up the pavement. Nothing was thought about it until shortly afterwards footsteps were heard coming in through the alley along the railroad and down towards Mr. BUTZ's barn. The party was watched until the barn doors were pushed open and the intruder entered. A light was noticed all around the barn, but only at short intervals, until the person was noticed immediately in front of the window towards the house, making a flash of light which exposed himself to the eye of Mr. BUTZ, who was watching his chance for a good aim at the rascal with his rifle.
Just than a fair chance offered itself and the rifle was popped off and the bullet entering the window right where the burglar made his last flash, putting a hole through the window just the size of the bullet, but no marks around the inside of the barn can be found where it struck, which is fair evidence that it was carried along with the burglar instead of a lot of boodle, which he very likety expected.
On the Sunday evenings of August 28, September 4 and 11, Rev. Albert Rudolph SCHORMAN, of Perkiomen Seminary, will deliver three interesting discourses for the people of Pennsburg and East Greenville which all are invited to attend. The themes of the discourses are as follows: First evening: Das Leben nach dem tode; Auferstehungs Frage. Second evening: Die innere Herrlichkeit unseres evangelischen Glanbens. Third evening: Die Wiederkunft Jesu Christi Aufrichting des Neuen Jerusalems. The discourses will be held in German. Rev. SCHORMAN is a native of Germany but our people have had no difficulty in understanding him. In which church and at what hour each discourse will be held will be announced in the next issue of Town and Country. All are heartily invited to attend.
A fireman on a Philadelphia and Reading freight train had the misfortune on Tuesday to throw his pocketbook containing $100, into the furnace of his engine with a shovel of coal. In taking his handkerchief out of his pocket the man accidentally pulled along with it the purse and as it lay unnoticed among the coal, shoveled it into the fire.
H.T. DUNLAP, aged 16, and a young woman, both from Philadelphia, and boarding at the Central Hotel, Rieglesville, were boating on the Deleware on Monday evening and failed to return. A search was instituted and the boat was discovered below the falls on Tuesday morning. It is feared the young people have been drowned.
Leaving her home on Saturday afternoon, at 1 o'clock, to go a few hundred feet into the woods for an armful of wood, Miss Sallie Ann SHUYLER, aged 92 years, living on the mountains above Macungie, missed her way and got lost. By taking a wrong path she became bewildered and for hours roamed through the woods, over rocks and through brush and bramble until she finally went down the side of the mountain and reached the road leading from Macungie to Hensingersville. At 6 o'clock she arrived at the farm house of Oliver FRITCH, in a thoroughly exhausted condition. The old lady was well known to Mr. FRITCH, who gave her a good supper and took her home. Her rambling covered a distance of about three miles. She was missed at home and an alarm was raised. A searching party of about twenty men went out on the mountain in all directions, but none was successful in taking the right one.
The Democratic voters of the election district of Pennsburg are requested to meet at the public house of Charles A. KNEULE, on Saturday evening, August 27th, between the hours of 6 and 8 o'clock and elect 3 delegates, to represent said district in the Democratic county convention, to be held in the Opera House, Norristown, on Tuesday, August 30, at 10 o'clock a.m., for the purpose of nominating five persons for the Assembly, one person for Sheriff, one person for County Treasurer, one person for Coroner, one person for Director of the Poor, one person for Surveyor. Also to elect one person to serve as Committeeman for this Election District.
William VANBUSKIRK, of East Stroudsburg, was fishing along Broadhead's Creek when he stepped back and trod upon a rattle snake. Before he had time to move the snake had bitten him in the calf of his right leg. The boy took out his knife and cut a deep incision where a little mark showed the snake had struck and then taking a burning match he applied it to the wound to cauterize it. This done he hurried to a drug store and procured alcohol, with which he bathed the wound. There was a little swelling but the prompt treatment evidently had the effect of removing the poison from the bite. The lad is getting along all right without a doctor.
M.J. MULDERING, Justice of the Peace, of Luzern county, whose right to divorce and remarry a couple is now pending before the court in a test case, in defense of his action says: "I claim if I have the right to tie people together, I have all the right to untie them, and I am going to keep on doing it. If a man and woman are miserable together and could be happy with some one else, what is the use of making them wait six months or a year."
By a decision of Register of Wills GROFF, of Montgomery county, a housekeeper for a nonagenarian will come in for a big share of his estate, valued at $25,000. The case was that of Jacob S. ZEBLEY, of North Wales, who died a few months ago, aged 91, having provided in his will that Louise SMITH, his housekeeper should be his chief beneficiary. Nephews and nieces, who had been favored under an earlier will, contested in vain.
The County Commissioners at their meeting, at Norristown, on Wednesday awarded the contract for the two and one-eighth miles of macadam roads in Worcester township to C.N. SMITH & Co., at $11,361. There were six other bidders, and the highest price was $19,975. This is the second contract that has been awarded in this county since the Good Roads laws was passed.
Recently some party fished along the Perkiomen somewhere between the Perkiomen Paper Mill and the farm of Jonathan MOYER, further down the stream. What was done to the fish is not positively known, but is is supposed that dynamite was used, as the banks along Mr. MOYER's farm were strewn with dead fish that were not discovered until attention was called by the horrible stench which they gave off.
Miss Bessie WALMER, aged 17 years, of West Lebanon, was shot in the breast above the heart on Tuesday, by John E. BOYER who was handling a revolver carelessly and not knowing it was loaded. The bullet was extracted and the girl is expected to live. BOYER was placed under arrest, charged with assault and intent to kill.
Entering upon a mercantile career and following it assidiously as a life work, Henry S. KERN (picture), the storekeeper at Shimerville, has achieved a well earned success. He was born near Shimerville, being the son of Thomas and Sarah (SCHULER) KERN. His early years were spent on the farm but in 1871, he became clerk in the general store of his brother, D.S. KERN, at Pennsburg. On leaving the services of his brother he became chief clerk for SCHULER Bros., at Vera Cruz. Later he entered the employ of L.S. SHIMER, at Shimerville, in a similar capacity and when Mr. SHIMER retired from business in February, 1892, Mr. KERN bought the stock and took charge of the business. His business is receiving the very closest attention possible and his place of business is one of the neatest country stores that can be found. In connection with his other duties, he is serving as post master for Shimerville. The family of Mr. KERN consist of his wife, Rebecca, nee BURKHALTER, one son, Charles B., and one daughter, Jennie B. The son followed school teaching in Lehigh county for five years and then took a course in the Veterinary College, at Ontario, Canada, and on graduation located in Iowa and is achieving success in his chosen profession. The daughter graduated at the normal school at Kutztown, two years ago, and has been teaching successfully ever since. The Reformed denomination claims the entire family as faithful members, their place of worship being the Reformed church, at Old Zionsville.
Last Sunday afternoon, Ira, the son of Tilghman DRUCKENMILLER, of Old Zionsville, was spending some time under a tree with several companions and while amusing themselves, was stung in the arm by what he supposed to be a hornet or wasp. The arm immediately became inflamed and his entire body commenced to swell. In a short time the boy became unconscious. He was removed to his home and Dr. BINGAMAN was called who applied the necessary remedies. The doctor is of the opinion that it was not the sting of wasp or hornet but of some other poisonous bug. The boy became unconscious a second time on Sunday evening, but by Monday had recovered somewhat but not all the swelling had subsided.
Mrs. Josiah DOWEY claims to be the champion cucumber raiser of Lehigh county, having a cucumber thirteen inches long and measuring eleven and a half inches in circumference. She has some that are very nearly as large and claims they are about three-fourth grown. They have been raised on good Republican soil she says.
A new counterfeit $2 bill has been discovered by the Secret Service bureau. It is described as of the series of 1899, check letter A, plate No. 240; J.W. LYONS, Register, and Ellis H. ROBERTS, Treasurer; portrait of Washington. The note is a zinc etching, poorly executed. The face of the note is heavy and blurred. The counterfeit made its appearance in Boston.
Calypso Island, one of the most popular pleasure resorts of the Lehigh Valley has been denuded, the last tree being felled last Saturday. The island is owned by the Lehigh Valley Railroad, and was purchased from the Moravians for $20,000. It contained forty acres of large, handsome "monarchs of the forest," all of which were cut down to make way for railroad improvements.
Alexander WHITE, of Reading, won the watermellon eating match at the Ringing Rocks Park at an outing of the Lodges of the Colored Odd Fellows of the Schuylkill Valley. WHITE got away with three good sized melons at one sitting.
A storm of unusual severty passed over portions of Berks County this week. At Dryville a vehicle was blown over a two-story house.
"More farmers are ruined today by going on the notes of friends who importune them for favors at public sales than by the failure of crops or the extravagance of their families," declared I.J. PHILLIPS, of Atglen, at the annual picnic of the farmers of North Coventry township, Chester county. Mr. PHILLIPS urged the farmers to cultivate closer relationship with the banks nearest them, and to purchase school board and municipal bonds for use as collateral, rather that giving notes. Fully 2000 persons attended the picnic.
William LICHTENWALNER, a farmer aged 42, living near Ziegle's Church, died in the Allentown Hospital on Monday from an accident which occurred while following his work. In backing his engine down the slope behind a barn, one of the wheels struck a stone, this swerved the front truck and Mr. LICHTENWALNER was struck in the stomach by the tongue. The blow caused a rupture of the intestines. The wound was of such a nature that it proved to be beyond the skill of the physicians.
The choir of St. Mark's Lutheran church had its annual outing on Wednesday evening. The trip was made to Boyertown in one of the four horse coaches of liveryman MILLER, of East Greenville. A stop was made at Kepler's Hotel. The entire party had a good time.
While waiting for a train at the Reading Railway station at Pottstown, on Wednesday, William B. MAUGER, aged 81, dropped dead of heart disease. For almost forty years decease was a railroader and was on the pension list for the past few years.
Harvey, a five year old son of Henry BAUMAN, while playing in the yard fell against a corner of the house, and nearly tore off an ear. Dr. I.B. YEAKEL was called who inserted four stitches. The child is getting along nicely.
Rev. C.S. WIEAND, pastor of Zion's Reformed church, Pottstown, has been granted a month's vacation by the church consistory, to go into effect on Monday. Rev. Mr. WIEAND took no time off on his vacation at all last summer so that he will enjoy his full leave of absence this year by entering on a new field of travel and taking a trip to the Pacific Coast. While he will devote much time to sight-seeing he expects also that his health will be much improved by the journey. He will stop off on his long tour at Chicago, St. Paul, Denver, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. He expects to stop for a number of days at the Yellowstone National Park and on his return at St. Louis to take in the Exposition. At Denver he will visit his nephew and at Chicago he will stay with his cousin. During Rev. Mr. WIEAND's absence the church will be closed during the next two Sundays. The Christian Endeavor Society, however, and the Sunday school will continue to meet at the usual hours. Rev. WIEAND is well and favorably known in this vicinity. He was formerly principal of the Perkiomen Seminary and has many friends here.
David S. HIESTAND, operator and electrician, living two miles south of Macungie, is the posessor of two valuable electrical inventions. Mr. HIESTAND received a tempting offer of $6,000 for one of these inventions and recently another firm offered him $10,000 in gold. The gifted young man is not anxious to dispose of his marvels of mechanism on such easy terms. - Kutztown Patriot.
The people along Neversink mountain, near Reading, have been annoyed by damages done to their vineyards and suspected a hawk as the culprit. On Tuesday Walter FREES, who was on the watch, shot a large bald eagle which was in the act of pouncing upon one of the largest vines. The bird fought furiously when wounded.
Despondent because he could not work anymore, Godshalk DELP, aged 70 years, of Lower Salford township took a razor and slashed himself across the abdomen with suicidal intentions. He was halted in his efforts and a physician was called who replaced the protruding vitals and drew the gaping wounds together with more than fifty stitches.
Toll gate keeper FRANKE, of Perkiomenville, was arrested last Friday on a charge of impersonating an officer and detaining several young men who had driven through the gate without paying toll. At a hearing all the facts were proven against him and the case was settled.
Two thousand and five hundred cucumbers were picked from 111 vines by Mrs. John ENGLE, of South Mountain, and the vines are still blooming and bearing. J.N. OLWEILER, of Elizabethtown, picked 1600 from a garden patch, 12x15 feet. The yield of an acre at this rate would be 387,000.
Menno KLOTZ of the Upper end of Lehigh county, was stricken with apoplexy while plowing in one of his fields on his farm. The stricken man plowed at random all over the field after the attack, and exhausted the horses which were found lying in the furrows in the swamp.
Albert STORB, a retired Pottstown business man, is the proud owner of a piano on which he took lessons when a boy. The instrument is 125 years old.
Contracting diphtheria while nursing his little niece at Allentown several weeks ago, Frederick RICHARDS fell a victim to the disease at his home at Maxatawny, on Tuesday night. The young man was only 19 years of age and of exceptional promise, being a graduate of Franklin and Marshall College, a member of the class of 1905 of the Theological Seminary at Lancaster, and having served as a spring professor at the Perkiomen Seminary during the last spring session.
Three weeks ago the young man was visiting his brother-in-law, Dr. James S. SMITH, of Allentown, and during his stay on Saturday, July 30, the bright little daughter of the doctor, Marian by name, was stricken with diphtheria. Though in noticeably poor physical condition, he insisted upon nursing the sick child and remained with it throughout its illness which terminated by death on August 5th. The anguish so affected the young man that he was unable to attend the child's funeral, and a few days later was removed to the home of his parents, Dr. and Mrs. M.S. RICHARDS. Diphtheria of a violent, virulent form developed.
Two injections of anti-toxin were made but with no result. On Tuesday night after much suffering he died, the result of heroic self-sacrifice. Beside his parents he is survived by two sisters: Cora, residing at home, and Mrs. James S. SMITH, of Allentown. Rev. Dr. RICHARDS, the well known former pastor of Dubbs church, Allentown, now professor at Franklin and Marshall College, Lancaster, is an only brother. The funeral services were held yesterday.
While crossing East Broad street, Perkasie, a 12-year-old son of Allen MITMAN, was knocked down by a horse driven by John FISHER. The horse stepped on the b oy's groin and the wagon passed over his body, inflicting severe injuries, both internal and external.
Attempting to ford the Perkiomen Creek at Ironbridge, Wm. OGDEN and Dervilla TROUTMAN were thrown into the stream by the wagon overturning. OGDEN saved the horse by cutting the harness after a hard swim.
B.F. GEORGE, of Allentown, was jailed on Tuesday at Reading, on a charge of passing worthless checks in a horse deal with Harvey TRUMBAUER, of Pleasantville. Mr. GEORGE is a horse dealer and weighs more than 400 pounds.
What was believed to be ivy poison turned out to be well-developed cases of small-pox in the home of George S. SCHWAB, in Pottstown, the father and three children being down with the disease.
John HALLMAN, of Limerick, arrested for chicken-stealing, escaped from Constable Montgomery YERGEY, en route to the jail, by slipping out of a side door in a Norristown hotel.
The big Bethlehem Steel Company plant was visited by its president, Chas. M. SCHWAB, on Wednesday. He said: "I shall make the Bethlehem plant the greatest armor plant and gun factory in the world."
Governor PENNYPACKER signed the charter for the new borough, consolidating Bethlehem and West Bethlehem, on Tuesday. The consolidation goes into effect at once. This will do away with the name of West Bethlehem.
Mrs. T.W. MOYER, of Topton, Berks county, has an enormous elephant plant, two stalks of which are 66 and 74 inches long and the leaves measure 46 by 32 inches and 45 by 31 inches, respectively.
James DEWALT, a 12 year old boy of Harmanville, a town near Norristown, was almost killed on Wednesday while playing "Wild West" with a dog and several boy companions. The boys were chasing a large Newfoundland dog which was supposed to be a buffalo. DEWALT carried a lariot which he finally succeeded in throwning about the dog's neck; but the other end circled about his own neck as the other noose fell over the dog. The boy was thrown to the ground and dragged and the shouts of his comrades only served to increase the animal's speed. He was being choked and hauled rapidly toward a rail fence guarding an abandoned quarry hole, and the fence was his salvation, for although the dog jumped over it, he was unable to pull the boy with him. When DEWALT's companions arrived they cut the rope and the dog dropped into the quarry and was killed. The boy was badly bruised.
About two weeks ago Harry LANDIS, paying teller of the Merchants' National Bank, at Allentown, discovered a clever swindle, although the party of the second part did not know anything about the swindle and was himself an innocent victim. The swindle was nothing less than the alteration of a $10 bill into one of $20, and the change was effected in the most artistic manner. From a $2 bill was cut the numeral and this was pasted over the figure 1 in the $10 bill. Then the green circle or emblem which adorns the back of the $2 bill was cut out of the latter and pasted over the X on the $10 bill. The small X's which adorn the corners of a $10 bill were similarly covered up. Mr. LANDIS detected the fraud by the fact that the bill bore the portrait of ex-Governor HENDRICKS, which is not the case in a $20 bill, and in examining the bill he discovered the alterations.
George BOYER, of Pennsburg, raised two exceptionally large tomatoes on one stalk. One weighed two pounds and the other only three ounces less. The size respectively was 17 by 14 1/2 inches and 15 1/2 by 14 inches. He raised many others that were nearly the same size and weight.
Henry F. SWEISFORD, of near Perkiomenville, will start the stone crushing business. He purchased a stone crusher and a portable gasoline engine with which he expects to begin work.
A blacksnake over five feet in length was discovered in the kitchen of John WILSON at Elverson, and it was finally killed by Aaron LIEBER and Joseph SIMMERS.
Horace H. RAHN, of Perkiomenville, this week, caught a nineteen inch black bass in the Perkiomen creek near that town.
A tramp met with a mishap last Friday night while about to retire in the barn of Jacob HIESTAND, of Hereford. He leaned against a door which opened and he fell out striking on the ground about ten feet below. He was pretty well used up and the services of a physician were needed. Dr. A.O. GERY was summoned who found a painful scalp wound and his body badly bruised. The next day Constable M.M. GERY, of Hereford, removed the unfortunate man to the Berks county almshouse.
Fright at being taken to the hospital, it is thought by some persons, was the cause of the death of Frank LEWERENZ, of North Wales. The man had been ill for several weeks with stomach trouble, and it was decided to remove him to a hospital for treatment. LEWERENZ had a horror of hospitals, but his friends insisted that he should enter such an institution. When the ambulance reached the hospital it was found that the man was dead, from heart disease.
Harry S. TRUMBAUER, of Finland has accepted a position in the William S. KELLER store, at Cressman, Bucks county, as clerk. Mr. TRUMBAUER expects to move to Cressman in the fall. He will enter upon his new duties in a few weeks. He formerly was clerk in C.G. HEIST's store at Red Hill.
"Don't go into the field with those mules," was the injunction of a mother to her little son, and a few minutes later the latter, Mrs. Frank PFITZENMEYER, was informed that her only child, Jesse, aged 5 years, had been kicked in the head by a mule and instantly killed. The family resides at Brandywine Manor, near Coatesville.
Conductor Levi SPOHN, of the Reading passenger train, leaving Norristown at 8 o'clock, p.m., on Monday, fell unconscious on the platform of his train. He died while being taken to a hospital. The cause of death was heart failure. SPOHN was next to the oldest conductor on the road.
The addresses which were announced in this paper to be given by Rev. A.R. SCHORMANN, of Perkiomen Seminary have been postponed. Announcement will be made later in regard to time and place.
The annual picnic of the cigarmakers of the Otto EISENLOHR & Bros. cigar factory of East Greenville, will be held on Monday, Labor Day, in the Joel SCHULTZ grove, near East Greenville.
Edwin SCHLICHER, of Upper Hanover township, this week, turned up a nest of tortoise eggs while plowing on the Queen of the Valley farm. There were twenty-six eggs in the nest and each contained a live turtle.
Last week completed the twenty-seventh volume of "The Item," published at Schwenksville by Irvin H. BARDMAN. Schwenksville can well feel proud of its newspaper, both from a newsy point and neatness of appearance, and Editor BARDMAN is to be congratulated upon the success achieved.
The school house and the property of James K. MELCHOIR, near Barto, was torn down. The building was condemned by the school directors 20 years ago, and was vacant since. Of late tramps selected it as a rendezvous, and to abate the unisance the building was demolished.
Paper hanger Charles TITLOW, of Pennsburg, has had an exceptionally busy week. He papered all the halls in the Perkiomen Seminary, several reading and other rooms.
Breaking her finger while loosening a rope around a calf's neck to save it from strangling to death, Mrs. William H. RETTEW, of West Vincent, Chester County, had the finger amputated and it was almost well when lockjaw developed, causing her death.
Allen TRUCKENMILLER, a farmer residing at Limerick Square lost six fine horses within a week, all dying of black diphtheria. Thirteen horses belonging to neighboring farmers have died of the disease within the last few days.
The consistories of the Pennsburg Reformed charge on Monday evening met in the Niantic Church and decided to grant a vacation to their pastor Rev. G.W. LUTZ until October 2.
Harry G. DYER, of Royersford, was granted a license to wed Miss Anna H. SAYLOR, of Schwenksville. Howard Jordan SACKS and Miss Martha KULP, both, of Rudy.
Joseph LOVERIDGE and James FRETH were seriously injured falling down an elevator shaft in Norristown.
Whirled around a shaft, at the Valley Mill of the Glasgow Iron Company at Pottstown, Frank EHRGOOD, aged 19 years, had a narrow escape from death on Tuesday. He was oiling the machinery when his clothing caught, and he was drawn about the swiftly revolving shaft. His leg was broken in several places and he sustained other injuries but he will recover.
Constable William SWEENEY, of Ambler, for the ninth week had the amusement proprietors of Chestnut Hill Park before Magistrate Charles FITZWATER, of Springfield, on Monday for conducting worldly business last Sunday. The usual fine and costs, $7.75 was paid.
The marriage of a youthful pair took place at Reading on Sunday. The bride, Miss Annie L. MAURER, celebrated her 14th birthday anniversary on July 8, and the groom is only 18 years of age. They were privately married by the Rev. K. HUNTZINGER. A reception followed.
When Peter SELL, of Bucks county, a Mennonite farmer, was arraigned for assault and battery in putting an agent off his place, he declared to Justice WALL that there were so many agents trying to get the best of farmers that they had to have their wits about them to keep from being robbed.
William WALDRON, of Conshohocken, was found dead in a cell in jail at Norristown, on Saturday afternoon. He was arrested the day before on the charge of disorderly conduct and committed for 10 days. WALDRON was a well-known base ball player.
In a dispute over a bill for hogs, between Jacob GABEL, a Boyertown drover, and Wm. W. DAVIDHEISER, a Pottstown business man, the latter was assaulted and received two black eyes, which cost the drover $35 and a bill of costs.
William H. WELKER, Jr., of ????? has accepted a position as a professor in Chemistry in ????? University, New York. ????? upon his new duties on ?????
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