Rebecca Marguerite WELKER, was born on the 22nd of December, 1821, and died September 18th, 1903, in Bluffton, Ind. She was united in marriage with Adam MILLER some fifty years ago. This union was blessed with three daughters and one son all have preceeded her to eternity. She lived with her husband in this community until about two years and a half ago when Mr. MILLER died, since then she made her home with her only grandchild Mrs. Rev. H.A. WELKER, of Bluffton, Ind. Last March she had a stroke of paralysis. This was followed by a second stroke about two months ago which confined her to bed and from which she never rallied. The Lord saw fit to call her home on the 18th of September, last Friday afternoon at ten minutes after two. She brought her life to the ripe old age of 81 years, 8 months and 26 days. She was a faithful member of the New Goshenhoppen Reformed church all her life. She fought the good fight and kept the faith and has received the crown of righteousness from her Savior. On Satu rday evening at 5 o'clock a short service was held at the Reformed parsonage, 409 W. Wabash street, Bluffton, Ind., in which four pastors of the city participated. At the close of this service the body was taken to the 6.13 train for burial in Pennsylvania. The funeral sermon was preached on Monday morning at her home church by the Rev. Calvin M. DELONG who took for his text Psalm 90:12.
Lydia FREED, wife of Samuel FREED, of New Hanover, died on Saturday of cholera morbus at 3.20 p.m. Her age was 43 years, 8 months and 27 days. She was sickly for three years, but was not confined to bed more than three weeks before her death. She at one time was sick in bed for 12 weeks. She is survived by her aged parents, Mr. and Mrs. Isaac HUBER, her husband and four children, Bertha, wife of Orlando ERB, Warren, Thomas and Katie. The following brothers and sisters also survive, Jacob, of Colebrookdale; Rebecca BAUMAN, of East Greenville; Henry, of Pottstown; Isaac, of Zieglerville; Mary, wife of Percival REITNAUER, of Boyertown; Amanda, wife of George SHOLLENBERGER, of Pottstown; Samuel, of Zieglerville; Emma, wife of Clarence LEVENGOOD, of Camden, N.J., and Noah, of New Hanover. The funeral was held on Thursday at the Christ church, Niantic. Revs. FREEMAN and FRANTZ officiated. The pall bearers were her brothers, Henry, Isaac, Samuel and Noah.
The quiet village of Greamers, Skippack township, was startled Sunday evening when it became known that the daughter of one of the leading residents, had committed suicide. She who committed the act of self-destruction was Miss Elizabeth MEYERS, daughter of Christian MEYERS, aged about twenty-two years. Miss MEYERS ended her existence by hanging herself with a rope in the woodshed at the rear of her home. Her parents were absent at the time, and she was seen by neighbors to enter the woodshed about one o'clock. Not finding her in the house on their return Mr. and Mrs. MEYERS instituted a search for her. The father as a last resort repaired to the woodshed and was greatly grieved on seeing her dangling from a rope, when he opened the door. She was hastily cut down and medical aid summoned, but to no purpose, as the life spark had fled at least an hour before. Miss MEYERS has been more or less of an invalid for the past ten years and at times grew very despondent. Her father is a retired tailor. Coroner KANE, who was notified made an investigation.
Charles F. DAUB, of Lebanon, was instantly killed on Saturday afternoon in a gunning accident. While DAUB was climbing over a fence the hammer on his gun struck a rail and the weapon was discharged. DAUB was shot through the heart. He was 32 years old and married.
John G. PRIZER (picture), of Schwenksville, is considered one of the most widely known bankers of the Perkiomen Valley. Mr. PRIZER was born in Perkiomen township, near Schwenksville, December 1, 1845. Up to the age of 18, he worked on his father's farm. Following this period he attended a course of study at Freeland Seminary, under Prof. A.H. FETTEROLF, and afterwards taught in the public schools of the county for three terms, from 1866 to 1869. With the advent of the Perkiomen Railroad to Schwenksville in 1869, he was appointed the first station agent and telegraph operator at that place, a position he occupied for 5 years. When the National Bank, of Schwenksville was organized Mr. PRIZER was elected cashier of the same and his activity, prudence and conscientious discharge of duty in that capacity since its doors were opened for business in April, 1874, to the present time, is attested by the steady and increasing prosperity of that institution. Mr. PRIZER has been a member of the School Board of Perkiomen township and its secretary for the last 15 years. Since Schwenksville was incorporated as a borough he has again been elected to a similar position. He has held other minor positions, that indicate the confidence of the people and their esteem for him. In November 1895 Governor HASTINGS appointed Mr. PRIZER trustee of the Norristown Hospital for the Insane. He filled this position most acceptably, taking a great deal of interest in all that pertained to the welfare of the institution. Mr. PRIZER is an active member of the Lutheran church. He is well and most favorably known throughout the entire county. All movements looking toward the improvement and progress of his town and community find in Mr. PRIZER an ardent advocate and an active supporter.
There is a movement on foot to make Dr. John N. JACOBS, of Lansdale, now president of the Montgomery Trust Company of Norristown the new president of the reorganized Doylestown National Bank. As yet the reorganization of the board of directors, which, heavy stockholders declare absolutely essential to resumption, has not taken place, although the resignation of those who are to step out have been presented. Within the next few days those suggested for directorship by the recent stockholders' meeting will be elected into the board.
The sorrel horse belonging to butcher G.W. GERHART, of Pennsburg, ran away for Calvin HAUCK, on Wednesday afternoon while he was being hitched up. Mr. HAUCK had the horse hitched to Mr. GERHART's new rubber tire buggy when he took off the bridle to put on another. The horse started off on a run down the alley and out on to Main street. At V.H. STECKEL's place the horse ran into a tying post breaking it and smashing the wagon. He was caught in East Greenville, but not until the rubber tire buggy was completely smashed.
Rev. William S. ANDERS has resigned as pastor of the Worcester Schwenkfelder Church after thirty-three years of service.
The teachers of Hereford assembled at the Harlem school house and organized a township teachers' institute, which will be held every month. Jacob F. GREISS was elected president, Charles E. FISTER, critic; Sallie MOLL, secretary, and each teacher was elected treasurer of the funds realized at each particular school. The first institute was held at the Clayton school house, Saturday morning and afternoon. The morning exercises opened with singing, conducted by Mr. SCHMOYER. Miss Daisy GERY read an essay, "How to teach primary geography," after which the subject was discussed by Harvey KRIEBEL and Jacob GREISS. Remarks by the critic, Mr. FISTER, followed. The afternoon session opened with singing, conducted by Mr. SCHMOYER. C.E. FISTER, teacher of the Clayton school, gave a class drill in primary geography. An essay by Sallie MOLL on "How to teach the step between primary and advanced geography," followed. The subject was further discussed by Mr. KEMP and Warren FUNK. After the critic's remarks the session was closed by singing.
Harry McELMOYLE, of Nesquehoning, Carbon county, who was tried at Norristown, before a Montgomery county jury was acquitted on Tuesday evening on the charge of murdering Patrick SHARPE, a strike leader at that place. McELMOYLE's wife and two sisters rushed up to him and covered his face with kisses as soon as the verdict was announced. His friend William RONEMUS who admitted on the witness stand that he shot SHARPE was placed on trial the next day.
A warrant was issued at Norristown on Wednesday for Kate GALLAGHER on the charge of assault and battery on Annie McELMOYLE, daughter of Harry McELMOYLE, who was acquitted Tuesday evening of the murder of Patrick SHARPE. Mrs. GALLAGHER was one of the principal witnesses for the prosecution. After McELMOYLE's acquittal the two women met at the Windsor Hotel. Mrs. GALLAGHER is alleged to have attacked Miss McELMOYLE, who had her eyeglasses broken and her face cut. Before the warrant cut be served Mrs. GALLAGHER had left town.
Edwin FRYER, of Sassamansville, this county, has lived within twenty miles of Allentown, for the past sixty years but never was in Allentown until this week. He took the train at Pennsburg on Monday morning for Allentown and to a friend he remarked that this was his first trip to Allentown. Mr. FRYER also visited Bethlehem for the first time for he went there to visit his daughter, Mrs. Rev. William H. ERB, of that town.
Mrs. Harriet JONES, a seventy-three year old widow of Siegfried, Lehigh county, made an attempt to end her life on Monday afternoon by cutting her throat with a razor. She had been acting strangely for some weeks, but very little was thought of it until the attempt was made. She just missed the jugular vein, and her recovery is expected.
Alton HUTTEL, son of Mr. and Mrs. M.N. HUTTEL, of Pennsburg, resigned his position as station agent at Wayne Junction this week and accepted a similar position with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He will enter the Union Depot at Pittsburg next week.
The GEHMAN family reunion was held at Menlo Park, Perkasie, on Saturday. The following are the officers: W.M. GEHMAN, of Macungie, president; Tobias GEHMAN, of Plumsteadville, vice-president; Alvin O. GEHMAN, of Coopersburg, secretary; Professor James GEHMAN, of Doylestown, made the address of welcome, to which Ulysses S. GEHMAN, of Earlington, responded. Other speakers were Rev. William GEHMAN, of Allentown; Rev. William GEHMAN, of Vera Cruz; Professor H.E. GEHMAN, Ephrata.
An exploding lantern caused a $7,000 fire near Lansdale on Tuesday night. The handsome barn of Frederick SCHWAB in Hatfield township was gutted, and several head of live stock were burned to death as well as slaughter house and smaller buildings. The loss is over $5000 with only partial insurance. A boy was walking in the hay mow with a lighted lantern, when it exploded and started the fire.
John SCHAEFFER, of Boyertown, picked 400 bushels of pears from his orchard, all of which he shipped to Pottsville. He has 200 bushels more to pick.
Dr. Oscar F. KUNKLE, of Klinesville, Berks county, and Miss Katharine DeLONG, of Bower's Station, were married at the home of the bride, by the Rev. J.O. HENRY, of Topton.
The will of the late Mary KEPNER, widow of Henry KEPNER, of Boyertown, was admitted to probate last Friday by Register of Willis KEMMERER, of Berks County, and letters testamentary were granted to Levi LEFEVOR, who is named as the executor in the will. The decedent left an estate valued at $142,500. By her will she directs that it be equally divided among her three brothers and four sisters. They are: Christian, John and Isaac STAUFFER, Sarah RITTER, Elizabeth KU LP, Esther BORNEMAN and Rachel ESCHBACH. Letters of administration c.t.a. were also granted to Levi LEFEVER in the estate of Samuel SCHANER, deceased of Boyertown, who died in 1870. Mr. SCHANER was the first husband of Mrs. KEPNER. He left an estate of $35,000. Mr. SCHANER left his estate to his wife for life. As she has now died by his will the following disposition will be made of his estate. To his tenant farmer, Joshua BAHR, a house and tract of 40 acres, and also an orchard of 1 1/2 acres. Mr. BAHR, however, is to take this property subject to $1500, which he is to pay one year after Mrs. KEPNER's death to the Fairview cemetery of Boyertown. The decedent gives one-half of the residue to his wife's estate and the balance is to go to his sisters in equal shares.
An eight-year-old son of Albert HARTMAN, an employee of the Adam SCHEIDT Brewing Company of Norristown, was terribly bitten by a vicious horse on Monday afternoon. Young HARTMAN and several other boys were standing on the pavement near to where the horse was tied and in a playful spirit touched it upon the head. The horse did not take kindly to the familiarity of the boys and turning around quickly sank its teeth into young HARTMAN's left arm. The flesh was torn from the arm to the extent of five inches.
A serious accident occurred to Mary HESS, who resides with her parents on a farm between Spring City and Ironsides, Monday. She was running behind one of her father's horses when it suddenly kicked her above the left eye, inflicting a deep cut, through which the eye ball protruded. Dr. J.C. MEWHINNEY, of Spring City, was summoned, and after pressing the eye back to its place, put several stitches in the cut. The girl bravely passed through the ordeal without taking any drug.
William RONEMUS, of Nesquhoning, Carbon county, was placed on trial at Norristown, on Wednesday, charged with the murder of Patrick SHARPE, a strike leader of that town. In the trial of Harry McELMOYLE, who was acquitted of the killing of SHARPE, RONEMUS testified that he did the shooting, and not McELMOYLE. He contended that he took the striker's life in self defense. Notwithstanding that RONEMUS is charged with murder, he has been out on $5000 bail. After nine jurors had been secured the panel of sixty jurors was exhausted. Judge SWARTZ directed the Sheriff to summon from among the bystanders and the county at large sufficient to fill the box. The summons of talesmen by the Sheriff was the first of the kind in this county. These jurors were selected: Penrose M. YORGEY, Norristown; Mahlon S. FREEMAN, Norristown; Montgomery MISSIMER, Upper Pottsgrove; A. Lincoln FRAME, Norristown; John S. KEPLER, East Greenville; David GETTY, Norristown; Charles J. HANSELL, Lower Merion; George A. TRUCKISS, Norristown; Irvin S. SHAFFER, Upper Gwynedd; Oliver WAMBOLD, Norristown; Henry S. BIDDLE, Ambler; Thomas S. RAMBO, Bridgeport. District Attorney HENRICKS announced that the Commonwealth would produce witnesses who would testify that RONEMUS fired the shot that killed SHARPE, and the RONEMUS had confessed that he had done the shooting. The witnesses were called and they all testified to the attack by SHARPE and of the intent to kill the deputies. McELMOYLE stated that when he had a scuffle with SHARPE in Gallagher's saloon he felt a revolver in SHARPE's pocket. He told this to the other deputies. After these witnesses had been heard the Commonwealth rested. The defense admitted the shooting, but contended that it was done in self-defense. They asked that a juror be withdrawn and a verdict of not guilty rendered. The case however was continued and placed in the jury's hands. Ten minutes later it had agreed and RONEMUS was acquitted of the charge of murder.
Edwin, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter RIEGEL, residing near Stein's Store, Lehigh county, while helping to thrash for a neighboring farmer, fell from the overhead floor to the floor below, a distance of twenty feet. He was picked up semi-conscious and removed to his home about a mile away. Dr. N.Z. DUNKELBERGER, of Kutztown, was summoned who found the young man suffering from a fractured forearm and bruises of the hip and leg.
The following have been drawn among others from adjacent counties to served as jurors at the term of United States District court in Philadelphia commencing October 19: Oliver K. BEAN, Worcester; Charles D. HESS, Bridgeport; Daniel SINCLAIR, Norristown; George W. STEINER, Frederick; J. Milton BROOKE, Edge Hill; F.K. FREED, North Wales; Michael K. GILBERT, Pennsburg; Harry MARTIN, Conshohocken; Thomas B. SMITH, Norristown; Charles W. STONE, Ardmore.
Francis REINHARD, of Zionsville, while picking crab-apples on a vacant lot near his home on Saturday, fell and fractured his hip and sprained his spine severely. Mr. REINHARD is a heavy-set man and fell a distance of ten feet. He was assisted to his home and Dr. BINGAMAN, of Old Zionsville, was called, who made the injured man as comfortable as possible.
Burglars entered the Barto school house by prying a shutter open on Monday night and stole some valuable wearing apparel belonging to the teacher, Miss Margaret HIBSCHMAN, and also belongings of the pupils. The intruders are supposed to be tramps.
Dr. O.C. HEFFNER's team of Pottstown, ran away on Saturday afternoon while two of his sons were out driving. The team was standing in front of a house when the animal took freight and started at break-neck speed down the street. He later ran into a telegraph pole and demolished the wagon.
Miss Lotta E. KERN, the milliner, of Pennsburg, this week moved to Red Hill. She will continue the millinery business at her new home.
A young bull belonging to David RITTER, of Boyertown, attempted to swallow an apple while in pasture on the William CONRAD farm near there, and almost choked to death. Efforts were made to extricate the apple from the animals throat but it was lodged there to stay. When all efforts had failed it was thought best to kill the bull ere it was strangled, which was done.
On Saturday afternoon about 5 o'clock the Sheriff seized the stock of store goods and all other personal property of Monoah B. MUSSLEMAN, of Quakertown, upon an execution issued by a wholesale grocery firm of Philadelphia on a judgment for $2200.80. There are other liabilities aggregating about an equal amount.
Elias HARTZ, the Reading goosebone weather prophet, says that the past summer was the most remarkable that he has ever experienced. When asked what kind of a winter we were likely to have he said that he believed that it would be long and severe. It is a little too early he said to make any definite predictions. "It is probable that we may have an early frost and that the corn may be affected. It will take several weeks before it will be fully matured and ready to cut, although some is being cut now in some sections of the county."
The new Reading Railway bridge across the Schuylkill river at Norristown was formally opened last Wednesday when the first passenger train with Col. James BOYD as a passenger was run over the structure. Since last Saturday, all trains for Phoenixville, Royersford, Reading and Pottsville and all trains on the Perkiomen Railroad will be run over the bridge, instead of via Bridgeport as heretofore.
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