Elmer, a son of William NICE, the feed and coal dealer at Shelly, who left his home many months ago for parts unknown, informed his relatives and friends of his travels and assured them of his good health in the following letter, which was recently received: "You may be of the opinion that I am among those who have passed away, but let me assure you, I am as well and as alive as ever. I was all over Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota and am now in California. There are orange groves all around here. I am working in a tunnel on the Southern Pacific Railroad and get $1.75 a day. I am working one mile underground. The tunnel is thirty miles from Los Angeles, California". He closed his letter by wishing to be remembered by all his friends.
[Picture - Jonas HENDRICKS]
Jonas HENDRICKS residing near Perkiomenville, a veteran of the Civil War, is one of the three surviving veterans of the famous 116th regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. Mr. HENDRICKS was born in Towamencin township on the 6th day of February, 1835. He was raised upon a farm and assisted his father in tilling the soil. After the death of his father Mr. HENDRICKS learned the trade of a shoemaker, which business he followed until the outbreak of the Civil War. Being an ordent lover of his country and feeling it his duty to assist in defending the stars and stripes, he enlisted in the 116th regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. This regiment was considered to be one of the most daring in the whole army. Many were the lives lost during engagements and at the close of three years services they were greatly reduced in numbers. This famous regiment was composed most fully of residents in the vicinity of Mr. HENDRICKS' home and many familiar faces were seen when the regiment marched out to join the army. On many occasions Mr. HENDRICKS fought side by side with comrades of boyhood days, and on several occasions it became his solemn duty to assist his friends from the field wounded, bleeding and dying. During the battle of Chancellorsville Mr. HENDRICKS was shot in the thumb, the bullet completely severing that member from the hand. He was then placed in the hospital at Chestnut Hill, where he remained nine months until his hand had sufficiently healed. It is interesting to hear Mr. HENDRICKS relate his experience during his enlistment, from the manner in which hot shells and bullets flew about him during the different engagements with the enemy it is a miracle that this old veteran lives to tell the tale. The well known deserters William HOWE and August BITTING were members of his regiment. The only remaining member of his company now living to the best of Mr. HENDRICKS knowledge, is Jacob LICK, residing near Perkiomenville. These two old comrades on every possible occasion come together and rehearse their army experiences, which always draws many willing hearers. At the close of this three years enlistment, Mr. HENDRICKS was ordered to Washington, D.C., where he received an honorable discharge.
Mr. and Mrs. Conrad MAUTE, of Rudy, on Sunday celebrated their silver wedding anniversary. The day was a most enjoyable one and there were present at the MAUTE homestead a large number of relatives and friends. At high noon the guests were ushered into the dining room where a sumptuous dinner was served. Many were the talks of interesting happenings of years gone by, and the amusing feature of this occasion were the many familiar faces of childhood days now surrounded by small families. This demonstrated to the host and hostess the rapid progress of time. The following were present: Katie, Mary, Charles, Howard, Elmer and Robert MAUTE, of Rudy; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis HAUPT; Conrad RITTER and family; Chas. BRENNER and family; Aug. RITTER and mother Mrs. Annie RITTER; Mrs. John RITTER and children; Miss Maggie RITTER; Rein ZIMMER; Alfred RITTER; Webster KULP and family; Fred. RITTER, of Souderton; John S. KULP and family, of Woxall; Charles SPIESS of Lederachville.
Mrs. Ida M. FOX, of East Greenville, died at her late home in that borough on Monday morning at two o'clock. Mrs. FOX was taken ill quite suddenly, and in a few hours typhoid fever developed, which was the cause of her death eight days later. She was a daughter of the late Andrew HOFFMAN, of near Niantic. Deceased was thirty-two years, one month, and twenty-six days of age, and is survived by her husband and four children, Stella, Lillie, Eva and William, who is but three months old. The funeral will be held from her late home at 9 o'clock this morning. Rev. J.J. KLINE will have charge of the services. Interment will be made at the Huber's Church, Niantic.
Barbara DRUCKENMILLER, wife of Tilghman DRUCKENMILLER, of near Old Zionsville, died last Thursday afternoon at 5 o'clock, aged 53 years, after an illness extending over a period of over fourteen years. She had been unable to do any work for the last ten years, and during the last three years of her sickness she was as helpless as a child. During her long illness she suffered a great deal from rheumatism, asthma and a complication of ills. Although sick for so long a time, she died unexpectedly. She is survived by her husband and the following children: Frank and Minnie, of Kutztown, and Ira, Emma, Agnes and Elmira, at home. The funeral and interment took place on Tuesday at the Old Zionsville Lutheran church, Rev. I.B. RITTER officiating.
Mrs. John BECHTEL, an aged lady of Bally, died last Saturday at the residence of her son-in-law, John L. BAUER. Deceased brought her age to 77 years. She is survived by her husband. Her only child Mrs. John L. BAUER, preceeded her in death by about 20 years. The funeral was held on Thursday. Interment was made on the Hereford Mennonite Church cemetery, Bally.
Elizabeth SCHULER, an aged lady died at the Almshouse last week. She was 82 years, 8 months and 28 days old. The funeral was held at the Old Goshenhoppen Church on Saturday. Rev. C.R. FETTER officiated.
Mrs. John ROBERT, of Fagleysville, died on Sunday morning at 8 o'clock. The funeral will be held today at 10 o'clock at the house, after which the cortage will proceed to the Falconer Swamp Reformed church, where services will also be held. Rev. G.W. ROTH will officiate.
The golden wedding anniversary was celebrated last Friday by Mr. and Mrs. Francis BIEHN at the old family homestead near Quakertown. The great farm house, which has weathered the storms of more than half a century, and in which three generations of BIEHNs have grown to manhood and womanhood, was gaily decorated from top to bottom with bright autumn foliage, flages and bunting. Seventy sons and daughters, grandchildren and great grand-children, brothers and sisters, and nephews and nieces were gathered under the paternal roof. Two chefs from Philadelphia had presided over the kitchen and pantry for two days prior to the anniversary banquet, which combined many delicacies prized by the bon vivant with the good things that commonly grace the Pennsylvania farmer's banquet table. The aged couple agree that their 50 years of comradeship had been so happily spent that it seemed more like one decade than five since the nuptial knot was tied. Rev. D.H. REITER of the Quakertown Lutheran Church, occupied a place of honor at the banquet, and delivered an address, in which he revived the life and work of his host and hostess. For 65 years, he said, Farmer BIEHN had been a member, and for at least 60 years a prop and pillar in the church. For 50 years, since the day she came to Quakertown as a bride, Mrs. BIEHN had been an earnest member of the congregation. The husband is 76 and the wife 72 years of age. She was born in Lehigh county, a daughter of Peter WEAVER. Of seven children four are still living.
BRIEF NEWS NOTES (matters of small importance that have occurred within the last week in the two towns of Pennsburg and East Greenville and their immediate vicinity)Mr. and Mrs. V.H. STECKEL left this morning for Buffalo, N.Y. and Niagara Falls.
Edwin H. SIEGFRIED and sister Sallie, of Monterey, are spending a few days with their sister Mrs. C.Q. HILLEGASS, of ?????.
Rev. O.F. WAAGE, pastor of the St. Paul's Lutheran Church of near town, will hold communion services on Sunday, October 27, in the forenoon commencing at 9 o'clock. Preparatory services will be held the day before at 2 o'clock p.m.
Adam GRABER, of Philadelphia, formerly of Upper Hanover township, spent Sunday as the guest of Milton KLINE, of this borough.
Mr. and Mrs. Eugene W. SCHOLL, of near this borough, left on Thursday morning for Buffalo, N.Y. They expect to spend a few days at the Exposition and Canada.
It is expected that the excursion to be given by the Topton Orphan Home to the Gettysburg battlefield on Thursday, will be the largest ever held by that institution. The round trip rates are exceptionally low and all who can possibly arrange to go should accompany the excursion.
Harry YELLIS and wife, of East Greenville, left this morning for Reading to visit relatives there over Sunday.
W.J. SCHAEFFER, proprietor of the Pennsburg restaurant serves fried oysters to his customers at his parlors, corner of Second and Main streets, this evening.
Rev. O.T. MOYER, pastor of the Milford Circuit of the Evangelical Church, will hold services tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, at Milford. In the afternoon at 2.30 o'clock, at East Greenville, and in the evening at 7.30 o'clock, at Hendricks.
D.K. GRABER, the stock dealer, sold twelve head of high bred cattle to a party at Quakertown on Wednesday. They averaged 1200 pounds a piece.
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. A. SAEGER, of Aukona Ind River, Fla., and Mrs. Edwin CARL, of Allentown, spent several days this week in East Greenville the guest of Mr. and Mrs. William DIMMIG.
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. M. GEHMAN, of Macungie, and Miss Mary CLYMER, of St. Louis, Mo., were the guests of Rev. and Mrs. Geo. B. WALBERT, East Greenville, last Friday.
The Perkiomen Seminary foot ball team will open the season on the home grounds today. They will meat on the gridiron, the Shissler Business College team, of Norristown.
The Pennsburg Reformed church will sell all the window frames, sash and kindling wood taken from the building at public sale today, at 3 o'clock.
The St. Paul's Lutheran Congregation of near town, on Friday evening elected Jacob KURZ and Wilson MILLER as deacons and Allen G. KLINE, of Red Hill, and Abraham BREY, of Kraussdale, as elders.
Dr. and Mrs. John G. HERSH, of East Greenville, returned on last Friday evening, from their extended Western trip. During their absence they were entertained in a most royal manner by many of their old friends now living in the far West. On their return trip they visited Mr. and Mrs. Col. BEST, of Millersburg, Borbon county, Kentucky. Col. BEST is the principal of the Millersburg Military Academy, an institution that stands at the head of the preparatory schools in the State. He said that the only trouble they encountered was the breaking away from his friends, as their ardent requests to extend their visit were really hard to refuse. He speaks in glowing terms of the hospitality of the western people in general and says that their trip West was a most delightful one.
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