The children and relatives of Mr. and Mrs. Philip GROFF, of New Hanover congregated at their home on Saturday in ???? to celebrate the aged couple's fiftieth golden anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. GROFF were married on October 5, 1851, and were very glad to see their children ???? them and the anniversary will never be forgotten by them, as they spent ???? in an exceptionally pleasant ????. Their pastor Rev. J.J. KLINE ???? appropriate address during ????. Mr. GROFF is 74 years of age and Mrs. GROFF 72 years.
A pleasant surprise party was tendered Miss Tillie ALTHOUSE, of this borough, on Thursday evening, in honor of her twentieth birthday anniversary. The surprise was complete as all the arrangements were completed without Miss Althouse gaining the least knowledge of them. The young people met at the home of Frank GERHART, a neighbor, and proceeded to the ALTHOUSE home in a body. They were given a hearty welcome and in a few minutes the guests had taken possession of the house. The evening was a grand social success, all manner of games were played and many beautiful vocal and instrumental selections were rendered. At eleven o'clock the guests were invited into the dining room where a sumptuous collation was served. The guests returned to their respective homes at a seasonable hour after wishing their entertaining hostess many more happy birthday anniversaries. The following were present: Misses Mamie CASE, Mazie BIERY, Emma BIERY, Ida GERHART, Sadie STYER, Lizzie ROTHENBERGER, Emma DYSHER, Ida SCHANTZ, Carrie KNEULE, Edith GRABER, Nora HILLEGASS, Katie BOYER, Katie ALTHOUSE, Kate GERHART, Messrs. Wm. JOHNSON, Frank CASE, Harvey HOOD, Jacob GERHART, Calvin FREED, Thomas HARTMAN, Wilson GRABER, George GRABER, Wm. BAUER, Eugene BISCHOFF and William GILBERT.
Samuel KEHS, a well-known citizen of Hereford, Berks county, was stricken with paralysis just after breakfast on Monday and died soon after. Mr. KEHS was stricken about three months ago, but had partly recovered, and was again able to be down stairs. He is survived by two sons, Harry, of Niantic, and Peter, of Hereford, and three daughters, Isabella, Jane and Ida, residing at home. His wife died about three years ago. Interment was made at the Catholic cemetery, Bally, Thursday.
Magistrate John B. LUKENS and wife, of Philadelphia, have issued invitations for the wedding of their daughter Miss Amanda M. LUKENS to Prof. Titus J. STELTZ, of Green Lane. The marriage is to take place at their summer home at Green Lane on Wednesday evening next at 8 o'clock. The groom is the son of J.H. STELTZ and is the principal of the Schwenksville public schools. The ceremony will be performed by Rev. G.B. WALBERT, of East Greenville.
Peter BUESGAN, a white young man of Allentown, this week took out a license to marry Edna SNYDER, a colored girl of Easton, formerly of Allentown. They boy's mother called at the license clerk's office and tried to stop the proceedings, but was told that she was too late. Mrs. BUESGAN, however, says she will prevent the wedding if possible, although her son is more than 21 years of age.
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Mr. and Mrs. Samuel HEADMAN, residing about a mile west of this borough, in Upper Hanover township, are undoubtedly the oldest couple now engaged in active farm life in this county. This interesting couple has passed through all the interesting years of farm life. It is highly entertaining to hear them relate incidents of their long and industrious lives. They have had comparatively little or no sickness. They have spent thirty-eight years of their lives farming in Upper Hanover township. Fifteen years of this long period of time they resided on what was then known as the Solomon STELTZ farm, near the new Goshenhoppen church. For the past twenty-three years they have conducted the farm on which they now reside. Some time ago a Town and Country reporter spent a pleasant half hour conversing with this remarkable aged couple. The surprising feature of the interview was the comparative ease with which they brought to memory things which occurred during their childhood days. In speaking of the price of farm produce a half century ago, Mr. Headman said everything then was much higher than now. "I distinctly remember the day when we received $3.25 a bushel for wheat; the farmer now is compelled to sell at 72 cents. Butter, a product which is used in every family, but in those days sparingly, sold at 50 cents a pound. This would naturally lead you to believe that the farmer fifty years ago was making money rapidly. This to a certain extent was true, but when you stop to think that muslin, an article universally used, sold at 75 cents a yard, it demonstrates itself that living was even higher then than at the present day. The farmers then raised large quantities of flax. The seed would be sold to the different oil mills in this vicinity and the women folks would convert the flax into cloth. It was a common sight to see a farmer working his flax press." Mr. HEADMAN was the last farmer in Upper Hanover township to discard this useful though antiquated machine. He is now in his seventy-eighth year and Mrs. HEADMAN is in the seventy-fifth year of her age. They are assisted in their farm work by their only son, Henry. Mr. and Mrs. HEADMAN are passionately fond of entertaining their friends, and an evening spent in the company of this aged couple rehearsing their lives is quite interesting.
The wedding of Frank SCHREIBER, of Hosensack, to Miss Sue YEAKEL, of Bally has been announced to take place on Saturday, October 28. The groom is a son of ex-Commissioner John SCHREIBER, of Hosensack, and the birde elect is a daughter of Dr. I.B. YEAKEL, of Bally. The couple expect to reside at Allentown where Mr. SCHREIBER is engaged in the carpentering business.
BRIEF 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)Rev. O.T. MOYER, of East Greenville, will hold Missionary prayer meetings at East Greenville tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock, Bethesda 2.30 o'clock p.m., New Berlinville 7.30 o'clock p.m.
Conrad GEHRING, of Kutztown, editor of the Kutztown Patriot, visited his daughter Miss Gertrude GEHRING, one of the public school teachers of East Greenville, on Saturday and Sunday. He was accompanied by his grand-child.
The repairman of this section of the Perkiomen railroad were granted a day off on Thursday. They were given instructions in the book of rules by Superintendent W. WEAND of this borough.
Mr. and Mrs. Mark TOWNSEND, of Linwood, N.J. spent several days in town this week visiting their son, who is a student at Perkiomen Seminary.
Mrs. F.F. RUTHARDT is confined to her bed with pneumonia at her mother's home in Sumneytown, where she had gone on a visit.
Miss Lizzie ROTH, of this borough, had an operation performed on her ear on Thursday at the German Hospital, Philadelphia.
Mrs. Elma MILLER of this borough, was taken violently ill with hemorrhages on Tuesday morning. Dr. C.T. WAAGE was at once summoned and stopped the flow of blood. Blood flowed profusely from the nose for an hour and a half.
Harry CAULLER and Richard REITZ, two employees of the Otto EISENLOHR cigar factory and residents of East Greenville, left for Tampa, Florida, last week. It is their intention to seek employment in one of the large southern cigar factories. Both men are exceptionally fine workmen and will undoubtedly be able to make that class of work. It is the intention of several other young men in that borough to visit Florida, providing a favorable report is received from their friends now at Tampa. They arrived at their destination on Tuesday.
A sour-krout lunch will be served at the American House this evening. A cordial invitation is extended to all to partake of the "Dutchman's lunch."
Reuben STAUFFER, of Tohickon, Bucks county, visited his daughter at the Seminary yesterday. After arriving at Pennsburg his horse took seriously ill, requiring the services of a veterinary surgeon.
E.N. EVANS of the Lancaster Theological Seminary, will preach in the Perkiomen Seminary chapel on Sunday evening, Oct. 13. Mr. EVANS is an orator of note, having represented his college in various inter-collegiate oratorical contests on different occasions and having had considerable experience as a pulpit speaker. Services will begin at 7 o'clock.
Mr. and Mrs. Nathaniel WEIDNER and children, of Philadelphia, spent Saturday and Sunday in East Greenville, as the guests of Henry STAUFFER and family.
Mr. and Mrs. Morris GREULICH, of East Greenville, returned from their visit to Williamsport last week. They visited many places of interest and had the pleasure of meeting some of their relatives and friends. Mr. GREULICH visited the Pan-American Exposition and Niagara Falls during the trip.
Rev. and Mrs. Jacob G. DUBBS, of Coopersburg, spent several days in this borough among relatives and friends.
Rev. and Mrs. C. MCINTOSH, of Spring City, spent several days this week with the family of Dr. and Mrs. C.T. WAAGE.
Senator John A. WENTZ, of Fort Washington, spent yesterday in this borough. Mr. WENTZ is well known throughout the county and is a staunch Democrat. He is an ardent worker and an able representative of the people. During his stay in town he made a pleasant call at this office.
The October Term of Criminal Court Was Held at Norristown During the Week
The October term of Criminal Court opened at Norristown on Monday, with a large number of cases on trial. Judges SWARTZ and WIEAND presided. Henry C. CRESSMAN, of Norristown, was selected as foreman of the Grand Jury and Frank L. DAVIS, also of Norristown, as clerk. The first case called for trial was that of Commonwealth vs. Charles VETTERS.
Ira D. LATSHAW, of Royersford, is the owner of a gold watch, valued at $200, which he gave to Samuel D. RUTH, a jeweler, to repair. On the 5th of June, 1901, the defendant entered Mr. RUTH's store and purchased a small ladies' watch. He asked the proprietor of the store to place it in a box. To obtain a box, Mr. RUTH walked to the rear of his store, leaving VETTERS in front. The gold watch of Mr. LATSHAW was within reach. Whether VETTERS took the same was not proved. Subsequently, however, the watch was found on VETTERS person. The latter explained that he had bought the watch from two men for the price of $12. This was also the explanation which defendant made on the witness stand. He denied that he offered to sell the watch for $6 as testified to by Frank KLINE. His employer, E.P. KERN, gave him a good reputation. Verdict guilty.
James MCGRATH was tried on the charge of feloniously entering the tool house of James BEATTY Sr., of Plymouth township, and stealing several hundred pounds of brass journals. None of the stolen property was found on the person or premises of MCGRATH when arrested, but several colored people testified that they saw MCGRATH break open the shop and then carry away a bucket full of the brasses. The jury, after deliberating a short time, rendered a verdict of guilty.
Wm. MORGAN, a young colored man, who has a police record in Philadelphia, pleaded guilty to breaking into the home of Mr. Geo. F. KERWIN Jr., of Lower Merion township, and stealing therefrom about $200 worth of clothes, cut glass, bri-a-brac, etc. Judge SWARTZ sentenced him to four years at labor, in solitary confinement, at the Penitentiary.
Stephen WILLIAMS pleaded guilty to carrying a concealed loaded revolver. He was sentenced to four months from July 11th.
Benjamin LINCOLN, a colored man, pleaded guilty to an assault and battery upon John SMITH and Jennie WILSON, also colored, of Broad Axe. On the 17th of July SMITH, in company with Miss WILSON was accosted by LINCOLN. He wanted the woman to throw over SMITH for him. Upon refusal, LINCOLN and SMITH came together, and landed in the gutter. LINCOLN then threw a cobble stone at SMITH, striking him upon the cheek and penetrating through to the jaw bone. He then set upon the WILSON woman and struck her three or four times in the face. On the witness stand LINCOLN treated the matter rather lightly. He admitted striking SMITH with a stone, and said he only slapped the woman a "couple of times in the mug." Judge SWARTZ changed the prisioner's expression by giving him nine months in jail, to date from July 19th.
John JINER, colored, pleaded guilty to the charge of stealing a gold watch, valued at $17.50, a coat worth $8 and a lot of other personal belongings from a fellow-boarder at Pottstown. He was sent to jail for one year.
Henry ROGERS also pleaded guilty to stealing a watch and other jewelry from George BOWERS, of Stowe. ROGERS hails from Reading.
Michael MCGAMIS, Elmer MCGAY and Joseph BURKE, three boys about 16 years of age, pleaded guilty to entering a shed attached to the house of Mr. COX, 1034 DeKalb street, Norristown, and stealing two rolls of carpet therefrom. They sold the carpet to Mrs. PASQUALE, an aunt of MCGAY, for $1.50.
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