The large barn on the farm ofHarvey Hiestand, near Chapel, was set on fire by the pet cat on Tuesday morning. Early in the morning Mr. Hiestand, with his lantern, went to the barn to milk his cows and placed the lantern on the window sill as usual and started towards the cows. He had taken but two or three steps when the pet cat jumped from the rafters, striking the lantern and throwing it into the straw. The straw was ignited and in a second's time was all ablaze. The fire was extinguished before much damage was done.
A large bag patching party was held at the home of Amos K. Schultz, miller, at Niantic, on Wednesday. Quite a number of his neighbors attended and the bags were patched in a short time. At noon a dinner was served the guests, and later several hours were spent in a social manner. The following were among those present: Mrs. John Stauffer, Miss Lucinda Schultz, Mrs. Irwin Henry, Mrs. Dianna Grubb, Miss Katie Hoffman, Mrs. David Landis, Mrs. John Bauer, Mrs. Joseph K. Schultz and Mrs. Frank C. Bauman.
An epidemic of measels have broken out at Harleysville. There has been reported by the physicians during the past week over twenty-five cases. The village school had, during the week, less than half its usual attendance. The doctors are kept busy night and day seeing the different cases.
The large stable attached to M.C. Graff's Hotel at Spinnerstown was visited by thieves on Tuesday evening. They gained an entrance by breaking the lock on the stable door. They carried away fully five bushels of oats and emptied the coal oil tank of its contents.
The congregation of the Lutheran church at Niantic elected the following officers: Deacons, Elmer Yerger and Henry Christman; Elder, William Himmelwright; Trustee, A.B. Pannepacker.
This is the season of the year when the thrifty housewife gathers her materials for new carpets and prepares them for the weaver. Rag carpets are again becoming fashionable in the big cities and there is no reason why discarded clothing and rags should be thrown away when for a small sum they can be converted into useful carpets. Levi S. Miller, of Powder Valley, who has long been a weaver of wide reputation, has again begun the winter business and his patrons speak highly of his work.
The weather was not favorable for an old-time Thanksgiving Day on Thursday, nevertheless the usual festivities were held in this neighborhood. King Turkey, as usual, was the heaviest sufferer. Almost every one of the factories and shops in the boroughs was closed and, although religious services in the churches were dispensed with, the day was spent according to the spirit in which it was inaugurated.
The door of the Methodist Church, at New Berlinville, was very much disfigured with axle grease one evening last week. The party or parties who committed this mean act are not known, but if found out, will be dealt with to the fullest extent of the law. A reward of $5 has been offered by the congregation for information that will lead to the arrest of the guilty parties.
Count Boni Castellane, of France, who is now staying at Souderton, seems to have but very little regard for "Uncle Sam's Coin." It is reported that he paid $4.00 for a single cherry, just to have the honor of purchasing the first on the market. This seems to indicate that the Count is very rich or expects a good sized fortune to come his way in the near future.
Rev. A.S. Shelly, of Bally, pastor of the Mennonite Congregation, will hold services in Grace Evangelical Church, East Greenville, tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 o'clock. There will be a short Bible Reading and song service in English previous to the sermon. A cordial invitation is extended to attend.
The following are the dates selected by County Superintendent R.F. Hoffecker for the holding of local teachers institutes in this vicinity: East Greenville, January 11 and 12; Sanatoga, January 18 and 19; Hatfield, February 1 and 2; Ambler, February 8 and 9. The date selected for the holding of the institute at East Greenville, may be changed.
Our Hill Church correspondent, John B. Gruber, reports that Mrs. Christiana A. Bechtel gave him an extraordinary cob of corn which is twenty years old. The corn is in fine condition, notwithstanding its age, and the cob is twelve inches long.
Howard P. Heller, the well-known conductor on the Colebrookdale branch of the Reading railroad, while trying to secure his cap which was blown from his head as the train was passing through the Swedesford bridge at Bridgeport on Monday, was thrown from the train moving at the rate of thirty miles an hour and fell on the south-bound track. Luckily, Mr. Heller escaped with his life, but he was badly bruised about the head, face and body, and he was unable to continue his labors for the company. The milk-train of which Mr. Heller was in charge was on the return trip to Barto and had just passed through the bridge when the conductor passed from one passenger car to another. As he was on the platform a gust of wind caught his cap and rolled it slowly down the steps of the platform. Mr. Heller made an attempt to recover the cap but his feet slipped and he fell from the train to the other track. The train, which was going at the rate of half a mile a minute, was quickly stopped and the trainmen ran back expecting to find the conductor a mangled corpse. They carried him gently to the train and took him to his home at Barto, where he is slowly recovering. George W. Melchior is filling Mr. Heller's place since the accident.
During the dense darkness of last Friday night the carriage containing Dr. J.Z. Hillegass and Edwin Jones, of Red Hill, ran from the road into the gutter at the lower end of this borough and threw the men violently to the ground. The carriage was upset and Dr. Hillegass was slightly injured. Luckily the horse did not run away and after the men had gathered themselves together they were able to conclude their journey.
Milton Moyer has purchased the undertaking establishment of William Fox, of Pennsburg and has added a new and well equipped outfit, with which he is prepared to attend to all funerals in the best and most approved manner. Mr. Moyer was Mr. Fox's assistant for many years and he is thoroughly acquainted with the business.
John Rohrbach, of Bally, caught twenty-seven rats in less than half a day. Mr. Rohrbach placed his trap about 8 o'clock one morning this week and when he looked about noon he was surprised to find there twenty-seven rats. He now claims that he has caught more rats in less time than any other man in that vicinity.
The petition which has been sent around among the residents of Upper Hanover in order to secure the introduction of the free-delivery of mail matter in that township has received twenty-five additional names during the past week. The petition will be completed this coming week and it will then be forwarded to Washington to the post-office authorities.
Goshenhoppen Tribe I.O.R.M., of East Greenville, had an entertaining session last Wednesday night when Great Chief of Records, Donnelly and Mr. Buckwalter, G.P.C.H., were present and addressed the members the tribe is in excellent condition and many new members will be initiated soon.
James G. Mensch, of Pennsburg, bought a cow from Hillegass & Fluck at Haring's Hotel last week and paid one hundred dollars for her. The cow is of no special breed but she is a beautiful animal.
Wm. Shade, an expert Sumneytown angler, last week caught an eel which was thirty inches long and weighed almost three pounds.
The fair which was opened in the Catholic School Hall at Bally on Thursday night started under most auspicious circumstances and it is said that it is the finest affair of its kind held in these parts for many years. The big hall was beautifully and tastily decorated and the displays comprised everything that a person could desire to see. Men, women and children thronged the building on the opening night and congratulated the management on the success of their enterprise. Rev. Father Nathe, who takes such a deep interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of his people, is taking more than ordinary interest in this fair and he is making special efforts to secure a large attendance because the object is such a worthy one. The fair will be open every Saturday night until New Year, and there will be specially attractive sessions on the evenings of December 26th and January 1st.
The executor of the estate of the late Charles Bitting, of Pennsburg, sold one frame and one brick dwelling house in this borough last Saturday. The one was bought by Wm. Bitting for $910, the other by Mrs. Samuel Bernhardt, of Pottstown, for $650. Both are children of the deceased.
Clayton H. Fryer, the contractor, of this borough had a job this week which showed his ingenuity. He moved the six-ton printing press of Town and Country from the first floor into the cellar without taking it apart. The job was quickly done, with the aid of Lucian Boyer, of Schwenksville, his assistant.
Owing to the scarcity of water during the past few weeks the Green Tree Creamery Association, of Frederick, are short several thousand pounds of milk. The association up until last week were hardly able to supply their retail trade with butter.
Abraham Moyer, a Vernfield farmer, was sorely injured in a runaway accident at the creamery last Tuesday. When he was picked up it was at first thought that he was dead, and he did not recover consciousness for more than an hour.
Charles Booz, of Vernfield, slaughtered 120 turkeys last Monday and sent them to the Philadelphia market. Mr. Booz was not trying to establish a record; he could kill and dresse twice that number in a day if he wished.
A cow valued at fifty dollars, the property of Hillegass & Fluck, was found dead in the stables last Thursday morning having hanged herself by means of the chain to which she was fastened.
Amandus D. Erb, the patentee of this valuable piece of machinery, is a resident of this borough, and is now employed by the Pennsburg Manufacturing Company. About three years ago Mr. Erb was given a position in the mill and was placed in charge of what is termed the sanding machine, and while at work on this seemingly crude piece of machinery he conceived an idea which would very much improve it. After working for some time on his plans, he was surprised to find that with several changes, he could make a machine far superior to any on the market at the present day. About six months after he had started to make the improvements on the machine, he presented to his attorneys, a model of a completely new and much simpler machine. He at once instructed his attorneys to apply for a patent, which was granted him on June 19, this year. The model has since been examined by experts in milling machinery, who have pronounced it to be one of the most valuable additions to that branch of the trade, as it will do twelve times the work of the ordinary sanding machine. Mr. Erb has had several seemingly good offers for the purchase of his patent-right, but he does not deem the amount sufficient for a machine so valuable. He has had an offer made him by a large milling concern who will take the machine, place it upon the market, and give him a royalty upon each machine sold. This offer Mr. Erb may accept, as it would be entirely too expensive for him to enter into the manufacture of the machine. To give our readers some idea of this new patent, it is only necessary to say that the machine is so contructed that it will prove a valuable addition to planing mills, furniture factories, casket factories, and all manufacturing plants where a smooth wooden surface is necessary for the completion of their manufactured product. Mr. Erb has invented several useful articles, which he never had patented, among which is a handy ironing board, which is largely used in this vicinity, and has proved a wonderful aid to the busy housewife. Mr. Erb takes great pleasure in showing his models to his many friends who call at his home. The one is made of Babbit metal and the other entirely of wood. He has the machines set up at his home, which are run by the mainspring of a large clock. Both machines work admirably, which thoroughly demonstrates the success of his invention. Mr. Erb was born at Perkiomenville, Frederick township, about 38 years ago. He moved to this borough thirteen years ago. He learned the trade of a mason and followed that business until three years ago, when he accepted the position he now holds with the Pennsburg Manufacturing Company.
Mr. and Mrs. Simon B. Hauck, two aged residents of Frederick township, near Perkiomenville, are beyond a doubt one of the oldest married couple in this county. They were married on the twenty-fifth day of October, in the year 1836, and have enjoyed exceptionally good health during their long and useful married life. About two weeks ago Mr. Hauck was for the first time, placed under the care of a physician. This interesting couple have lived an active life upon the farm, Mr. Hauck performing all his usual farm duties until his recent illness, two weeks ago. Mrs. Hauck is a daughter of the late Jacob Samsel, of Hoppenville, and is in the 85th year of her age. If Mr. Hauck lives until the 20th day of next month he will be ninety-two years of age. This aged couple are highly respected and much thought of by the citizens in the community in which they reside.
Peter N. Faust, a well known farmer, powder manufacturer and creamery operator, of Sigmund, Lehigh county, died on Sunday after an illness of two years with dropsy, aged 65 years, 8 months and 1 day. The deceased was formerly a resident of Frederick and Zieglersville where he conducted a coal yard. He was a highly esteemed citizen and served during the Civil War as captain. He was a member of the Reformed Church and was at one time superintendent of the Frederick Sunday school. He is survived by two sons, John, of Macungie; Peter, at home, and four daughters, Mrs. Calvin Christman, of Harlem; Sarah, a trained nurse, of Norristown; Katie, a school teacher in Upper Hanover township, near Red Hill, and one living at home, and the following brothers and sisters: Hon. Samuel Faust, of Frederick; Dr. J.N. Faust, of Zieglerville, and Mrs. Jacob Gerhart and Mrs. J.K. Freed, of Norristown. The funeral was held yesterday and interment was made at Solomon's Reformed Church, Macungie.
Mrs. Mary Menk, wife of Isaac Menk, of Niantic, died on Monday night at 12 o'clock. Her death was due to consumption from which she suffered for the last three months. Mrs. Menk was the youngest daughter of William Reigner, who died about sixteen months ago from internal injuries received by a heavy wagon passing over his body. Deceased's age is 21 years and 6 days. She is survived by her husband and two children; her mother, one sister, Mrs. Lawrence Miller, of Allentown, two brothers, Frederick Reigner, of Congo, and Howard Reigner, of Niantic. The funeral will be held today at 9.30 o'clock at the house. Services will be held at the Lutheran Church, Sassamansville. The pall-bearers are Jonathan Moser, Aaron G. Bauer, Calvin Huber and Oswin K. Huber. Rev. Wm. Fox and Eli Keller will officiate.
Jacob Fegley, president of the National Iron Bank, of Pottstown, and one of the largest real estate owners in that town died suddenly on Wednesday from heart affection. Mr. Fegley, who was 70 years old, was interested in many business enterprises throughout the county.
Charles B. Barndt, of Tylersport, and Miss Martha Hegeschweiler, of Garisville, Bucks county, were married last Saturday afternoon. On Sunday the couple were entertained by the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Barndt and more than sixty persons called to congratulate them.
Harry P. Nice, a son of Gideon Nice, the merchant at Hillegass, and well known throughout Upper Hanover married Miss Carrie R. Mumbauer, of Spinnerstown, last Saturday, November 24. The ceremony was performed by the Rev. Thos. H. Leinbach, of the Trinity Reformed church, at the parsonage in Spinnerstown.
Samuel Christman and Miss Lizzie Miller, both of New Hanover, were united in marriage by the Rev. G.W. Roth last Saturday.
On the same day Irwin Herner, of Sanatoga, and Miss Sarah Buchert, of New Hanover, were also united in marriage by Rev. J.J. Kline. Both weddings were private, only a few of the near relatives being present.
The executor of the estate of the late Charles Bitting, of Pennsburg, sold one frame and one brick dwelling house in this borough last Saturday. The one was bought by Wm. Bitting for $910, the other by Mrs. Samuel Bernhardt, of Pottstown, for $650. Both are children of the deceased.
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