Cat Caused Much Trouble

1916

Family Pet Has Been Formally Cautioned that "The Cave" is Not Public Property

Out in Woodruff place a number of small boys have banded together and done what most boys have done if they were real-for-sure boys — built a cave, says the Indianapolis News. Approaching this cave is a long underground tunnel about two feet square. What there is in this tunnel in the way of side chambers and the like, the fathers and mothers never will know, but at the inside end of the tunnel is the den, about five feet square, built in a side hill and as dark as the most cavernous depths of a Wyandotte cave.

One of the youngsters belonging to the band of cave dwellers hurried home from school the other afternoon, donned his cave outfit, and made for the tunnel. Crawling in flat on the ground, he made his way toward the den. Arriving there, he heard a scrambling noise just ahead and two fiery spots loomed up in the darkness. His teeth chattered with fright. He couldn't back away, he was too frightened to go forward, and there was no chance of escape at either side. The fiery spots became active and the boy became panicky.

Just what happened in there the outside world will never know, but when the cat — it was the family cat — came out of the tunnel it was going some. No cat ever moved faster, and it didn't stop until it had reached a barn three lots away.

And the boy — when he emerged his face was as white as the arctic snow and he was moving rapidly for the open. The next afternoon the boy painted a sign on which were the words: "The Cave" in white paint, on a blazing yellow background. Gazing proudly at the sign he explained: "Now, if that fool cat can read, he'll keep out of there."

—The Edwardsville Intelligencer, Edwardsville, IL, Sept. 19, 1916, p. 4.

Cupid Ten o'Clock Club

Indiana, 1905

Scheme to Revolutionize Love Making in Logansport, Indiana

For the purpose of discouraging swains with a disposition to monopolize all their time and to encourage the habit of "breaking away" early the Cupid Ten o'Clock club of Logansport Ind., has organized with twenty charter members, says a special dispatch from that place to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Miss Florence Moore, the founder, is the president. She declared that two evenings a week was abundant opportunity for the prosecution of the most ardent suit, and believes that "no two young people can have anything so important to say that it cannot fully be discussed in a three hour call."

Announcing in newspapers her intention to combat evils arising from too great familiarity before marriage, she called for enrollments in the new club and declares it will revolutionize love making in Logansport. She hopes to extend the idea throughout the state. Miss Moore is only eighteen and of a prominent old family.

Men and Women Shocked by Billy Goat

1910

INDIANAPOLIS. — Mr. Billy Goat partook of a breakfast of hemp rope and started out for a little recreation from a shed in the rear of 916 Fowler street. It was a fortunate incident for several persons who met Mr. Goat that they had eaten their breakfasts before leaving home, thus avoiding the trouble of eating from the mantel or top of the kitchen cabinet. The animal was in a joyful mood, and liberty and fresh air made him tricky. The goat made no distinction as to sex. In his playfulness he enjoyed seeing a woman just as much as a man, and the result was that two women were badly frightened and shocked by having their bonnets shaken violently when they felt a sudden shock from the rear.

It was stated to the police that one man was shaken loose from his false teeth by the unexpected greeting of the goat, but the bicycleman who investigated failed to learn his name.

Clara Langsdale, 710 East Eleventh street, made the acquaintance of the goat, according to the police, and, although given a jolt by the animal, she maintained her footing and escaped injury.

In answer to an excited telephone call Bicyclemen Rodemacher and Rowe were sent to the place from the substation in East Seventeenth street. The goat by that time had moved over in Ashland avenue and persons in the avenue, including men, women and children, were giving the animal plenty of room. Rodemacher had never wrestled with goats before, but instinct warned him that the only manner in which to held a goat successfully was by his horns.

The bicycleman showed a bold front for the reason that he has to sit on a bicycle seat much of the time and he could not afford to take the chance of turning his back. Mr. Goat accepted the challenge of the bicycleman, and he started toward the men in a manner that caused them to glance with longing eyes at the lower branches of the nearest tree. They stood their ground, however, and Rodemacher met the animal with outstretched hands. He seized the goat's horns and perhaps saved himself from being butted over a church in the neighborhood. The bicycleman held on and during the struggle he called for Rowe.

"Just hold on, Roddie, until I get up this tree, and then let go," was Rowe's jest.

Rodemacher needed no advice, and he held on until Mr. Goat came to the conclusion that he was violating the law. A goat with better manners could not have been found after he seemed to realize that he was "pinched."

Harry Potter, Colored Loiterer, Still in Jail

Excerpt from court news, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1916

The drunks let go this morning were Walter Kelsey, Dan McMuller and John Starr, the latter claiming to have been robbed of $45. Duke Bransirattor will be up again on Feb. 7. James Moran, a vag, and Harry Potter, a colored loiterer, were ordered hold until Feb. 12.

—Fort Wayne News, Feb. 5, 1916, p. 4.


Siloam Fight Monday

Siloam Springs, Ark., May 27. - A group of Tulsa amateur boxers will meet mittmen from Tahlequah, Okla. and Siloam here Monday night, May 29. Harry Potter, Tulsa, and Philip Bluebird, Tahlequah, and Jack Sikes, Tulsa, and Hoss Glory, Tahlequah, head the card.

—Fayetteville Daily Democrat, Fayetteville, Arkansas, May 27, 1933, p. 3.


El Paso, Texas, 1937

Mrs. Harry Potter has returned from a visit of several months in the East.


Salem, Ohio, 1894

Harry Potter, who has been visiting friends here, left last Saturday for Mansfield.


New Castle, Pennsylvania, 1940

Harry Potter, of East Washington street, who has been ill at his home, is somewhat improved.

A Sensational Runaway

1896

A runaway couple were married on a railway train near Shelbyville, Ind., last week. The girl's parents opposed the match, and watched her closely to prevent her giving them the slip and getting married. The young man learned that the squire was to travel by a certain tram one day last week, and arranged with the girl to meet him at the station. He went to Columbus and got the license, met the girl at the station as the train came in, and the pair boarded it and were married by the squire before the train had gone many miles and before any stop was made where they could be intercepted by a telegram from the girl's parents. — New York Sun.


Lee Ephraim's Sevens

Certainly the figure seven has marked the career of Lee Ephraim, of Roanoke, Va., to an extraordinary extent. He was born in the year 1877, on the seventh day of the month and on the seventh month of the year and seventh hour of the day. He has seven letters in his surname and it requires seven letters to spell the name of the State in which he was born. He has lived in four cities, and the name of each one contained seven letters. He has seven sisters and brothers, and one time drew a valuable prize on the number 77. Oddly enough this prize was not $777. — New York Press.


Great Antlers

At a recent exhibition of antlers at Berlin the Emperor took two prizes, one for the best collection and one for the best single head.

Statue Given by Indiana

1900

Although each state has the privilege of placing in Statuary Hall, in the national Capitol, statues of two of its illustrious sons, ten states only have thus far availed themselves of the opportunity in full. Six other states have presented one statue each. On a recent Saturday afternoon, in the Senate-Chamber, a marble statue of Oliver P. Morton, the "war governor" of Indiana, was presented to the nation in the name of that state.

Mr. Fairbanks, the senior senator from Indiana, was the first speaker. Among those in the galleries were the widow of Mr. Morton and several of his nephews. On the floor had gathered, besides senators, several of the representatives from Indiana, and other friends of the man whose deeds were to be recounted.

"This statue," began Senator Fairbanks, "is to stand in yonder hall. Assembled there are the marble figures of citizens, soldiers and statesmen. In good time representatives of each of the states will be gathered there, when the number will equal the membership of the United States Senate. Parties here may come and go, administrations may rise and fall, but no change will occur in the members who join the select assembly in that exalted and historic hall."

The physical difficulties under which Mr. Morton labored during the later years of his life, when a member of the Senate, were brought out by Mr. Fairbanks, and also by Mr. Allison, who had served in the Senate with him. Mr. Morton had long suffered from an incurable malady, which compelled him to be seated while speaking and to go into the Senate supported by attendants. And yet he worked so hard in the committee-room and elsewhere that Senator McDonald, his old-time colleague, described him as "tireless among the tired, and pressing on where strong men gave way."

Senator Beveridge, also of Indiana, made the concluding speech of the day, after which the Senate passed resolutions accepting the statue and thanking the state for its gift.


Sugar For The Troops

German soldiers get a ration of sugar; so do British and French soldiers when on duty in the tropics. And now, by advice of the medical staff and with the approval of army officers, the United States Commissary Department has been shipping many tons of confectionery, put up in pound packages, for the use of our soldiers in Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Philippines.

— Youth's Companion.

Lives On Five Cents a Day

1901

Indiana Laborer Thrives on Exclusive Diet of Oatmeal

William Hamlin, a laborer, of Mishawaka, Ind., employed in very active work, and who spent the summer as a laborer in digging sewers and laying water-mains, has subsisted throughout the summer and fall on five cents a day, and is still continuing the experiment. Mr. Hamlin selected oatmeal for his diet, paying two cents a pound therefor, and consuming two and a half pounds a day, or seventeen and one-half pounds a week of seven days, at a total cost of thirty-five cents.

Hamlin's daily bill of fare since last summer has consisted of the following menu: Breakfast, plenty of hot drinking water and three-quarters of a pound of oatmeal; dinner, plenty of drinking water and one pound of oatmeal. For supper he takes a hot or cold bath, sometimes only a foot bath, three-quarters of a pound of oatmeal and plenty of drinking water. Mr. Hamlin says that after eating supper he often feels frisky as a colt. Whenever his appetite becomes rebellious and his stomach seems to crave other food he simply lays the oatmeal away on the shelf until the appetite returns and the stomach becomes subjugated.

Several citizens of this place, acquainted with Mr. Hamlin's eccentricities, vouch for the accuracy as detailed, and assert that Mr. Hamlin is as well satisfied with his present physical and mental vigor that he is not desirous of returning to the old order of things.

$25 Reward for Missing Wife

1911

Editorial Quips

An Illinois husband has offered a reward of $25 for the return of his missing wife. "That's all she is worth," she says. That is love.

The Marquis of Landsdowne's Rembrandt, valued at $500,000, may go into the National gallery and then again it may be brought to America.

A Chicago professor says that lack of money is the bane of wedlock. In the matter of feeling this lack as a bane, wedlock has plenty of company.

Nearly 2,000,000 brook trout fry are ready for planting in Wisconsin's streams. They will probably develop into 2,000,000 fish stories later in the year.

Australians have perfected the milking machine so that it milks a hundred cows in two hours. But the milkmaid will continue to live in poetry.

Flat-wheeled trolley cars and all auto horns are to be regulated in New York.

The center of population, unlike most of the sons of Indiana, remains in that state.

Taught Daughters To Rob, Is Charge

1920

Mother of Girls, 8 and 10, Is Alleged "Fagin"

Children Arrested for Shoplifting

INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana — Indianapolis' most unusual shoplifting case came to light with the arrest of Mrs. Bella Goldfarb, 38, and the detention of her two oldest children, Minnie, 10, and Lillie, 8.

Mrs. Goldfarb is charged with child neglect, while the two little girls are confined in the juvenile home.

The woman was taken into custody after Minnie and Lillie were arrested in Pettis Dry Goods store. When questioned by woman Police Sergeant Clara Burnside and operatives of the Quigley-Hyland detective bureau, it is claimed they said their mother whipped them if they failed to bring home loot after a visit to the stores.

Police Find Stolen Goods

Investigation of the Goldfarb home, the detectives and Sergeant Burnside claim, reveals many articles supposed to have been taken from downtown stores.

Operatives of the Quigley-Hyland bureau picked up the two little girls in the Pettis store. After questioning, their case proved so interesting that Detective Martin Hyland visited the Goldfarb home with his operatives. The children then denied that their mother whipped them when they failed to bring home articles.

When they were found each child carried a bag. The children were taken in charge when Minnie, it is alleged, placed in her bag a piece of ribbon she had taken from a counter. In the bag were other articles. Lillie's bag contained a cap valued at $4,75 which, it is charged, was taken from the Pettis store, and a number of small dresses said to have come from another store.

At the home it is claimed there were many articles said to have been taken from different establishments. A number of pieces of silverware and boudoir caps were among these articles.

Mother Made Girls Thieves

Mrs. Goldfarb was not arrested at that time because she has three other small children. She was ordered to appear at police headquarters. When Sergeant Burnside brought the two children before her they again admitted that they were instructed to steal.

"Mamma whips us if we don't bring home something," one of them is alleged to have said.

Mrs. Goldfarb will appear in juvenile court soon. No charges have been preferred against the children, Sergeant Burnside being loath to arrest them because of their tender years.

Mrs. Goldfarb said her husband works as a shoemaker in Dayton, Ohio. She said he sent her from $20 to $30 weekly.

Squirrels Raid An Attic

1915

Confiscate Winter Supply of Black Walnuts, But Family Capitulates

Huntington, Indiana — A squadron of flyers has laid siege to and captured one stronghold in the heart of the residence district of Huntington. The besiegers have appropriated a winter's stock of supplies and those assailed have capitulated.

The squadron comprises a number of flying squirrels. A winter's supply of walnuts was scented in the attic at the home of Clinton Butler, an Erie engineer. An opening into the attic was discovered and possession taken by the squirrels. The scamperings of the squirrels were heard by the Butler family during the day and their chatter disturbed the sleep of the family at night. Investigation resulted in solving the disappearance of the nuts.

In an effort to win the friendship of the little animals food is set out for them.


Flower Stems Saved Her Life

Newport, Kentucky — Mrs. Ida Muth owes her escape from death by drowning to a large bunch of withered canna stalks and flowers she intended throwing away. She stepped upon the cover of an abandoned cistern, which gave way and she plunged into 12 feet of water. The canna stalks proved buoyant and for many minutes they kept her head above water. Her screams brought help.

Pursued by Wolves

1906

Samuel Johnson, an Indianapolis man, eighty-three years old, who was one of the most enthusiastic old settlers at the recent reunion at White City, tells of an experience with wolves on Buck Creek that nearly ended disastrously for him.

"I was out on a hunting trip about twelve miles from Indianapolis on Buck Creek," said Mr. Johnson. There were thick woods all around that part of the country and few people near. I was living in a house made of logs in the midst of the woods and a fine place for wolves. I never thought much about the danger, though, and used to go many miles away on a hunting expedition without seeing a wolf or thinking about one.

"One day I went on a trip and stayed out a little later than usual. It was getting dark and as I got near home the air was cold, and if wolves ever are hungry they would have been hungry that night. I hurried along trying to get in the house before night," and I began to wonder if there were any wolves near.

"I happened to look back and saw a big patch of black moving toward me. I hurried faster and just got inside the door when the pack reached the house. I barred the door and kept clear out of sight, but on the outside I could hear the animals howling and scratching around. They must have stayed an hour or more, but I did not try to shoot them, and I think they lost the scent of me. Anyway, they turned suddenly and ran off down the road, and I never saw them after that time." — Indianapolis Star.

A New Fish Discovered

1896

Scientists are startled when they find a new fish weighing twenty pounds. On September 18, 1896, while fishing on the banks some twenty-eight miles southwest of Cape Flattery, in the schooner Wenoma, Captain Jacobson caught a strange and uncommonly beautiful fish in eighty-five fathoms of water. The fish is twenty-six aid a half inches long, seventeen inches deep and about four inches thick. It weighs twenty pounds, and in high coloring surpasses nearly every other fish of the ocean. The top of the head is a brick red, the back is a metallic blue, shading to an aluminum color on the under side. The mesial line is strongly arched and marked by a series of large scales. The whole fish is covered with pure white round spots. The fins are strongly spined and extend nearly the whole length of the fish. The long spine of the dorsal is ten inches in length. The tail is lunate. The color of the fins is bright vermilion, edged with sulphur yellow. The month is small and toothless, the lower lip protruding and of a vermilion color. The eyes are large and round.

None of the books on fishes in the libraries of the University of Washington or the Young Naturalists' Society give any description of this new visitor of the finny tribes. — Seattle (Wash.) Post-Intelligencer.


Indiana, 1896

Found a Pearl in the Creek

B. T. Howland, a farmer living near Evansville, Ind. found a pearl a few days ago in the creek below the mill at Afton. He sold the gem to a man living at Brodhead for $350. The buyer had the gem appraised by experts and now values it at $1500. No suggestion as to how the pearl might have got in the mill stream is offered. — Buffalo Express.

"White Mule" Sign Lured Thirsty Ones

1920

Maude Was There, Also Something Else With a "Kick"

VINCENNES, Indiana, March 18. — "White Mule for Sale." Thirsty ones who heeded this inviting sign, tacked to the door of a stable, found a real, somewhat alive white mule for sale. Here's the story, as told by one of the Federal agents who aided the State prohibition enforcement commissioner in a recent roundup of whiskey peddlers in this section of the State:

A clique of bootleggers purchased an old white mule, scoured the animal up, placed him in a stall and then hung out the sign.

Those interested enough to inquire were "sized up" thoroughly. If in doubt, the bootleggers' representative on duty displayed the mule's good "points" and quoted a price far beyond reason. If the prospect looked "safe," his thirst was quenched.

Farmer Solves Mystery of Disappearing Chickens

Indiana, 1906

CAUGHT CHICKEN THIEF

Thomas Covington Solves Mystery of Disappearing Fowls

Repeated thefts of chickens from the farm of Thomas Covington, on the Covington road, west of the city, were solved this morning when Mr. Covington discovered that a steel trap which he had set last night to catch the thief had been drawn entirely through the small opening into the chicken-roost. Mr. Covington in triumph drew the trap and its prisoner into open daylight, acquiring at the same time a knowledge of the identity of the thief and a closer and more intimate acquaintance with a member of the skunk family than he had ever before enjoyed during his long experience as a farmer.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 24, 1906, p. 1.

Hazers Use Electricity, Victims Serious

1906

Four Students of Winona Technical School Given Treatment

Indianapolis, Ind., Feb. 23. — Electricity is the latest in hazing. Murray Robinson, Edward Jones, Charles Fisher and William Marsh, students at the Winona Technical institute, are the first victims. The work was done by upper classmen at noon yesterday. The four young men were subjected to an electrical circuit until they dropped exhausted. All are in a serious condition, but refuse to divulge the names of their tormentors.

When members of the faculty of the school were approached great surprise was expressed. An investigation followed with the finding of Robinson, Marsh, Jones and Fisher in bed. All efforts to get stories from them as to the affair proved fruitless. From other sources, however, the information was gained that the men were seized as they were leaving the building for their rooms, taken to the mechanical department, gagged and bandaged.

A powerful machine then was put in action and wires attached to all parts of the bodies. They were then held until one by one the victims fell to the floor unconscious. When released and revived each was charged not to breathe a word of the hazing under penalty of a more severe dose.

Director Smith says the matter will be investigated and the hazers punished.

"We have a complete electrical equipment," he said, "but I cannot think what apparatus they could have used. All our current is so heavy that it scarcely could be used in such a manner without killing a man or placing him in great jeopardy."

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Feb. 23, 1906, p. 5.

Socialist Learns Not To Discuss Politics During War

Indiana, 1917

THIS IS NO TIME TO DISCUSS POLITICS

Thomas McGuire, Socialist, Learned a "Bit" on Friday

When a common purpose wells in every man's breast is no time to argue politics, admits J. T. McGuire, 2017 Walton avenue, carpenter and socialist.

McGuire leaned heavily on the bar of a down town saloon Friday night and boisterously mentioned that the young men who are flocking to the colors in answer to the war call are "dubs, because they don't know what they are going to fight about."

Several citizens attacked the man and Patrolman Brandt arrived just in time to quiet talk about forming a lynching party. McGuire was taken to jail on a charge of intoxication, pleaded guilty to the complaint in police court Saturday morning and was fined $5 and costs. He paid his fine.

"I am through talking politics until this war is over," McGuire told reporters after the court session. "This is no time to start an argument."

Henry Bair, who was also taken on an intoxication charge and who admitted that he attacked McGuire, "for insulting our loyal lads," was released by Judge Kerr.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, April 7, 1917, p. 18.

Whistling Vaudeville Perform Tells Benefits of Whistling

Indiana, 1906

Whistler Talks

Harry Antrim, who is doing a whistling stunt with Miss Yetta Peters at the Temple this week, has achieved quite a reputation in his line of work. Antrim is a clever imitator and his act gets him much applause. "I was fired from the Philadelphia Record for whistling and I have been whistling for a living ever since," he said this morning. Mr. Antrim claims that if there would be more people use whistling as an exercise there would be less consumption in the country. How many people are always complaining of their throat and lungs. And why? Because they are not properly developed. Take whistling for instance, just the ordinary scales, the kind you play on the piano. Instead of playing them whistle them just as low and as loud as you can and I am sure you will be benefited by it in a short time. It causes the chest to expand and materially develops the lungs."


At The Temple

This afternoon and evening — High-class vaudeville.

The matinee at the Temple this afternoon will begin at 2 o'clock in order to give the performers time for the special vaudeville performance that will be given at Robison park for the street car magnates.

—Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette, Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sept. 27, 1906, p. 7.

Miser Swimm Dying — Buried $78,000, No One Knows Where

Ohio, 1895

MISER SWIMM DYING.

Unable to Tell Where His Money Is Concealed.

HE BURIED IT SOMEWHERE.

Suffering From a Stroke of Paralysis Which Will Undoubtedly Cause His Death, He Endeavors by Signs to Tell Where It Is Planted but Can Not. How He Surprised a Kenton Attorney.

COLUMBUS, O., April 8. — In his dying hours the mind of the aged miser, John Swimm, turns back toward his hidden treasures. The stroke of paralysis he suffered a few days ago, however, renders him speechless, and he can not tell where the fortune is buried. He tries to talk of it, and makes signs to indicate the location of the place where the money lies, but no one can understand him. The indications are that be will die without revealing the hiding place of his hoarded wealth. The only things he can leave behind him for the benefit of others, under the present circumstances, are his farm lands, valued at from $15,000 to $30,000.

Planted His Hoard.

It is undoubtedly a fact that the old man has planted considerable wealth. Some place in this wide domain of Uncle Sam's there might be found $78,000 that was placed underneath the ground by the miser. There is reliable foundation for the statement that he has buried this amount. The authority for it is General M. B. Walker of Kenton, a well known attorney, and a man of the utmost veracity. The story goes back to about 15 years ago. Swimm was then on one of his tramps about the country. At Kenton one night be was sleeping in a fence corner, and on awakening the next morning

Claimed to Have Been Robbed

of $10,000 during the night. He caused the arrest of two men who were subsequently acquitted. Then these two men in turn sued the miser for $10,000 damages for false arrest. General Walker was the attorney for Swimm. During the trial of the case one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs sarcastically remarked that he did not believe the old codger had 10,000 cents, let alone $10,000. This angered Swimm, and later in the day, in General Walker's office, he demonstrated to his attorney that he not only had $10,000 but considerable more. He dug down into the lining of his clothes and

Produced $78,000

in greenbacks. General Walker not only saw the money, but had it in We hands. At the time Swimm told the general that be intended to bury the money and take no more chances of being robbed. Shortly afterward he left the place, and a week later General Walker received a letter from the old man in which he stated the small fortune had been duly planted. It is believed the treasure is somewhere in Indiana.

Dr. Z.V. Purdy, Logansport, Indiana, Nearly 104 Years Old

Riverdale, Illinois, 1915

NEARLY 104 YEARS OLD

Still Enjoys a "Shot" and a Chew of Tobacco

Dr. Z. V. Purdy, who resides near Logansport, Ind. returned home Wednesday after a five weeks visit with his son J. Purdy of Harvey. The doctor will be 104 years old if he lives until next March. He was born at Harper's Ferry Virginia, March 5, 1812. He practiced medicine for many years in Kentucky and Indiana before retiring some years ago. He is quite strong for one of his years; his mind is clear and his hearing and eyesight good. The scribe had the pleasure of quite a chat with the old gentleman last Wednesday morning while he was waiting for the Panhandle train at Riverdale. He was accompanied by his sons J. W. of Star City, Ind., and J. Purdy of Harvey. He served nearly six years in the army and carries a silver mounted cane presented to him by Gen. W. T. Sherman at the close of the war.

The doctor takes a little stimulant of whisky toddy about four times a day and always keeps his plug of tobacco handy and uses it frequently. He says he has never taken any great care of his health, but lives "one day like another" and expects to live for many years yet. He is still interested in current events but likes to talk of the old days and can remember dates very clearly.

The scribe has heard and read about people a hundred years old, but this was our first experience to meet and greet a person of that great age. Wonder how many of our subscribers know a man or woman 100 years old. Write us about it if you do.

—The Pointer, Riverdale, Illinois, December 24, 1915, page 1.

Farmer Inherits Old Scrapbook of Distant Relative

Fort Wayne, Indiana, 1908

HAS OLD SCRAP BOOK.

Record Kept by "Uncle Peter" Kiser Now Owned by Ossian Man.

L. F. Snyder, a farmer residing near Ossian, has in his possession an old scrap book made by "Uncle Peter" Kiser, one of the best known Fort Wayne pioneer merchants, whose death occurred some years ago. The volume was originally a canal register kept in Fort Wayne in early days, showing the movement of boats on the Wabash and Erie canal through this city. In the book, also, Mr. Riser pasted newspaper clippings of local historical events, election tickets of many years and specimens of the old state bank notes and the "shin-plaster" money which was in circulation years ago. Mr. Snyder is a distant relative of the Kisers, and the valuable old volume fell into his possession upon the death of Mr. Kiser.

—The Fort Wayne Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana, October 3, 1908, page 4.