William D. MARSTELLER, of Allentown, a former resident, of near Shimersville, Lehigh county committed suicide in his stable in that city. He left his home at 6 o'clock Friday evening after telling his wife that he was going to see a neighbor and after that he would go to lodge, but it is evident that he went direct to the stable and committed the rash act. His body was discovered on Saturday morning at 10 o'clock by his two brothers Eli C. and Geo. H. MARSTELLER, who had been notified of his disappearance and were searching for him. The body was found in a kneeling posture with knees barely touching the floor of the stable and an ordinary wash line strung about his neck and fastened to a rafter on the second floor of the stable. He had on his overcoat and his hat lay in the hay beside beside him. The victim of this tragedy lived with his wife and four children at No. 213 North Eleventh street. He was in the bread business the past year. He did not bake the bread he sold, but bought the goods from other bakers and owned the team and route. Previous to his going into the bread business he made ice cream for Peters & Jacoby's. About two weeks ago he sold out his bread route to M.F. MILLER & Son, the bakers, of No. 122 North Seventh street. His horse died and he expected some insurance on the animal. Ever since the sale it was noticed that he was melancholy. His wife frequently asked him the cause of his trouble, but he always told her there was nothing wrong. He told a friend he had sold out at a profit and intended making ice cream for a party on Walnut street, near Twelfth. Among the effects found in his pockets was a note which read as follows: Lizzie, I am sorry for the bad deed that I have done. I hope you will get along better without me. Ray, I say goodbye to you and little children. Goodbye, Will." This was written on the back of an envelope. Among the effects found were a large number of P.O.S. of A. lodge receipts and papers, also money and some checks and other lodge matters. The family was notified by Officer SCHAFFER. The wife was prostrated, Mrs. MARSTELLER stated that he was regular in all his affairs until two weeks ago when he became morose and melancholy. The oldest child, Ray, is 9 years of age and is the son referred to in the note written on the envelope. The baby is but 11 weeks old. It is said MARSTELLER was a lodge enthusiast and gave more time to them than he did to his business. Coroner SCHEIRER decided not to hold an inquest. The deceased was 34 years of age. He is survived by his wife and the following children: Ray, Matilda, Carrie and May the infant child. His mother, of Shimersville, also survives, besides these brothers and sisters, Eli C. and George H. MARSTELLER, of Allentown; Harvey, of Shimersville; May, of Allentown, and Annie, of Easton.
In the will of former County Treasurer Henry LOYETT, of Tullytown, probated at Doylestown Saturday, he ignored all his relatives and bequeathed all his estate to six of his younger friends - Harry WOODSIDE, Frank CARLEN, Geo. W. CARLEN, Harry STREETER, Joseph B. SWANGLER and W. Wallace WHITE. He also makes this provision. "I also direct that my body be buried in the Tullytown Christian cemetery, and that no funeral services shall be held at my house. But my funeral shall be held at Tullytown Christian church. My executor shall see that any preacher or minister may have the privilege of making an address at my funeral without invitation, and that my funeral shall be public. No meals shall be prepared at my house on the day of my funeral, except for my immediate family."
Twenty head of Guernsey cattle, said to be the finest herd ever imported into America, were received from Liverpool by Edward T. PRICE, of Broad Axe, Montgomery county, last week. The herd is valued at $30,000. The cattle will be exhibited at the World's Fair, in St. Louis. The herd comprises such prize winning animals as Busy Bee, Lady of Somerset, Bijou's Darling, Lady Francis, Ivy Leaf and Seluda. Busy Bee is the $10,000 beauty, and Lady of Somerset won the second prize last summer out of a class of thirty-eight.
A.B. RITTER, of Pennsburg, visited his mother at Allentown, on Saturday.
Herman ROTH made a business trip to Philadelphia on Thursday.
Charles O.F. TREICHLER, of East Greenville, was in Philadelphia, on Tuesday.
A daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. Andrew HAGENBUCH, of near East Greenville.
Mr. and Mrs. William BAUER Sr., of Pennsburg, spent Saturday and Sunday at Allentown.
Wilson SELL, of Blandon, Berks county visited the family of Dr. W.H. HUNSBERGER, of this borough on Sunday.
Howard BRILE, of Reading, spent Sunday with the family of Herman S. HILLEGASS, of this borough.
Alfred SCHANTZ, of East Greenville, made a business trip to New York, on Tuesday.
W.B. DIEHL, of Pennsburg, spent Tuesday at Norristown and Philadelphia.
Howard W. KRIEBEL, of East Greenville, made a business trip to Philadelphia, on Monday.
J.P. SCHAEFFER, a student at the University of Pennsylvania, spent Sunday at East Greenville.
John GERHART, of East Greenville, attended to business in Philadelphia, on Tuesday.
George E. HEVENER, of Pennsburg, made a business trip to Philadelphia, on Monday.
Frank K. WALT, on Tuesday moved from Pennsburg to Reading, where he will reside in the future.
Horace KULP, the lower end shoe dealer made a business trip to Allentown on Wednesday.
E. Holmes SWARTZ, of Lafayette College Easton is spending a brief vacation at his home in this borough.
John L. DIMMIG, of East Greenville made a business trip to Philadelphia on Wednesday.
William KECK, of near the New Goshenhoppen Church, this week moved into his new house near East Greenville.
Mrs. S.T. SUMMERS and Mrs. E.W. SCHOLL, of this borough, visited the family of Jonas WAGNER, of Pottstown, on Thursday.
Miss Florence CHRISTMAN, of Allentown, visited her grandparents Mr. and Mrs. William CHRISTMAN, of this borough.
George GRABER, of Allentown, is spending several weeks with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank GRABER, of this borough.
Mrs. Ella SHIMER, of Bethlehem is visiting her father Dr. J.G. MENSCH. She is just recovering from a recent illness of pneumonia.
Rev. J.K. FREED, of East Greenville, this week moved to Schuylkill Haven, where he will serve a two-year's pastorate in the Methodist Church.
Mr. BUCKALEW, an employee in the Eureka Ribbon Mills, rented the house No. 211 Fourth st. Pennsburg, from Nathaniel REED. He moved into it yesterday.
The home of Daniel HEFFENTRAGER, of East Greenville, was on Thursday quarantined. Emma, a daughter is sick with diphtheria.
Prof. C.K. MESCHTER, of Perkiomen Seminary will preach in the Kraussdale Church to-morrow morning in place of the pastor Rev. O.S. KRIEBEL.
Rev. W.U. KISTLER, of Athol, preached eloquent trial sermons at the Pennsburg Lutheran and the St. John's Lutheran Churches on Sunday.
Henry STUFFLET on Thursday moved from the house of Hiram C. WICKERT on Fourth street this borough to one of Frank K. WALT's tenant houses on Main street.
Arthur K. THOMAS, Lansdale, editor of the Doylestown Intelligencer on Saturday visited his father Allen THOMAS who is sick at the home of M.K. GILBERT, of this borough.
Mrs. Rev. E.E.S. JOHNSON, returned to her home at Philadelphia, on Monday after spending some time with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose GERHARD, of near Palm.
William CONRAD, of Philadelphia on Thursday moved his family into the tenant house near this borough of D.K. GRABER on the Macoby Valley Stock farm. Mr. CONRAD is a brother to Charles CONRAD, of near that place.
The executors of the D.W. HARTZELL estate, sold the store property and five acres of land at Anise to John H. GOTTSHALK of Frederick, for $500.
Mrs. Polly COVELY (picture), of Harlem, is the oldest resident, of Hereford township Berks County and is still as hardy and active as many who are twenty years younger. She has lived to the advanced age of 80 years. She is a daughter of the late Ex-County Commissioner Michael GERY who died thirty-four years ago. Mrs. COVELY was born at Harlem, Hereford Township and has been a resident of that township all her life. She was the fifth child of fourteen children. She was married to David COVELY, who died about eleven years ago. She has forty-five grand children and fourteen great grand children. The following brothers and sisters living in this vicinity are: Ephriam N. GERY, of Hereford, Charles N. GERY, of Siesholtzville, Mrs. Daniel PRICE, of Philadelphia, Frank N. GERY, of Philadelphia, Mrs. Jacob M. CHRISTMAN, of Sigmund, Michael N. GERY, of Hereford, Milton M. and Jacob M. GERY, of Harlem. The last two are only half brothers. Mrs. COVELY was the mother of sixteen children of whom the following are living: Francis G., of Frankfort, Ind., David G., of Harlem, Mrs. Emma BAUER, of Pottstown, Mrs. Dr. Jas. W. SALLADE, of Schuylkill Haven, Michael G. and John G. COVELY, of Bally, Henry G. and Mrs. James S. GREISS, of Pottstown.
Lizzie, the 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank DUDEK, of No. 135 Hamilton street, Allentown on Monday afternoon at 4 o'clock performed the unenviable feat of drinking a pint of whiskey and emerged from her debauch with her life. That she is alive today though is due to prompt medical service. The bottle with the whiskey was standing on the stable and the little one managed to get the bottle and drank the contents. She at once became dead drunk and as soon as possible Dr. F.B. SCHEIRER was sent for and he responded promptly and applied emetic's and the stomach pump.
Thieves on Wednesday afternoon entered the house of Henry SWEISFORT, of near Perkiomenville, during the absence of the family. When the family returned in the evening from a visit to a neighbor they noticed a second story window open. After they got into the house they saw that a thief had gained entrance through the window by climbing on the porch and that the desks, drawers and closets were searched. $2.50 was missing from Mr. SWEISFORT's room and $6 belonging to Alice STAUFFER, a boarder. The family was only away from the house several hours and the thief evidently watched them closely.
William HEVENER, of near Tylersport, formerly of Hillegass, has rented the new grist and saw mill recently erected near Sumneytown by James S. MILLER.
A leap year dance at the Sorrel Horse Hotel near Sumneytown, last Thursday evening was one of the most novel social events of the season in that vicinity. The affair was entirely under the management of the young ladies of the vicinity. Miss FREDERICKS the director of ceremonies, assisted by other members of the fair sex deserves much credit for the manner in which the plans were carried out. A leap year dance differs from a dance given in any other than leap years, only that the conventionalities of ceremonies being reversed, the young ladies being in duty bound to call for their male friends, escort them to and from the dance, to make the dance engagements, and the ladies are not allowed to dance with one another but gentlemen are, providing they are not invited to dance with one of the fair participants and at the close of the ceremonies the ladies escort the gentlemen to their homes. The affair was pronounced the most successful event of its kind ever held in that hall.
Irwin LAUBACH, of Durham, Bucks county, has been arrested by Chief EASTMAN and Sergeant KNAUSS, at his home, for threatening to assassinate Mayor F. LEWIS, of Allentown. The Mayor received an anonymous letter, postmarked Durham, which contained a string of curses and foul epithets, combined with threats to scatter the brains of the Mayor with dynamite. The prisoner admitted having written the letter, and implicated several others. A postal inspector will aid in prosecuting the case.
Tobias KILE, the oldest man in Bucks county, died on Friday near Quakertown, aged 102 years. The deceased was born within a mile of the home of his daughter, where he died. He was one of triplet brothers. His two brothers were both in the eighties when they died. When he was 100 years old he visited South Bethlehem, traveling by trolley unattended, to visit his two daughters.
The resignation of Rev. T.H. LEINBACH, of Spinnerstown, to the consistores of the Trinity Reformed and the Chestnut Hill Churches will take effect on May first.
J.M. GRIMLEY the carpet dealer, of Allentown, has lately furnished the Grace M.E. Church, of Catasauqua, and the Freemansburg Lutheran and Fraternity Hall, with Brussels carpet.
The Pennsburg Athletic Club held a meeting last week and reorganized. Martin KAPP was elected manager and Leo SECHLER treasurer. The following players have signed: Frank FOLK, pitcher; John HUNTER, catcher; Horace SMITH, first base; Andrew STAUFFER, second base; James STEIN, third base; Wm. SNYDER, short stop; William BARR, centre field; Val. TRUMBORE, left field; W. MAWRY, right field. The club has already closed dates with the Marion Club, of Easton; J.E. Madden's Club, of Bethlehem; The Columbia A.A., of Easton; Franklin & Marshall, of Lancaster, and other strong teams in the eastern section of the state.
Allen REITER, of near Siesholtzville, is the possessor of a broadaxe stamped with the year 1755. It appears to be of English manufacture and was no doubt brought along by some pioneer who used the implement in felling or dressing trees in Penn's Forests. The axe is not as large as those of later years, and is shaped at the blade so as to be used on right or left hand side by reversing the handle. Mr. REITER treasures the relic very much.
Bucks county's special act of 1862, prohibiting peddling, still stands, having been successfully tested by the Bucks County Mercantile Association. E.H. SIMPSON, R.F. FRANCIS, W.D. GRAY, E. ROROPAUGH and W.A. TANTUM have paid fines aggregating $1000 and costs of $199.72 imposed by Justice of the Peace WALL, on May 9, 1903, and sustained by Judge YERKES shortly afterward. The men were convicted of peddling stoves and other kitchen articles.
Edwin, son of Mr. and Mrs. Titus SELL, of near Kutztown, met with a painful accident which will disable him for some time. He was cutting wood and while holding it with his left hand and swinging the axe with his right, the handle of the axe caught in his coat. He missed his aim and the blow struck his left arm, inflicting a painful wound. The sharp instrument severed the blood vessels, tendons and nearly one of the bones near the wrist joint.
One of the draft horses used in the team of William F. YOUNG, the Henricks Oil dealer, died suddenly on Tuesday night. During the day he was used in the team and he showed no signs of illness when placed in the stable in the evening. In the morning when Harry STEHLEY the teamster came out in the stable on Wednesday morning he was to find the animal dead. He was amazed valued at $150 and was not insured.
Burgess RHOADS, of Boyertown, has clearly drawn the lines between him and Council by stating in his annual message to that body: "If you do your business legitimately you will have no trouble with me."
Laura J. LONG, the sixteen year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. LONG, of Almont, near Tylersport, was fatally burned while taking up ashes and raking the stove at the home of Mr. and Mrs. SUTTON, of Sellersville, where she was employed as a servant. A red hot coal fell from the stove on her dress and set it on fire. Instead of trying to extinguish the fire she ran to a neighbor's house, some distance away. By this time she was all ablaze, caused by the wind fanning the flames. After a great deal of difficulty the fire was extinguished, but not until she had been fatally burned. Her whole body was terribly burned except her feet and face. A doctor was immediately sent for, but owing to the severe roasting of her flesh he could not save her life, and she died the next morning.
Peter V. HOY, proprietor of the Hotel Montgomery, at Norristown, has brought suit against the Union Mutual Insurance Company, of Norristown, for the sum of $1160. He alleges in the statement, which has been filed, that his property was damaged to that extent by a fire on December 16, 1903, which partially destroyed the back building and that although demand has been made, the insurance company has not paid the amount of loss as required by the policy.
Milton NYCE, of Lucon, met with an accident on Sunday while driving over a culvert near the Lederachville chapel. The bridge gave way and the horse broke through which caused him to fall. Mr. NYCE gave an alarm and neighbors assisted him in getting the horse freed. The animal's leg was badly twisted which caused him considerable pain, but luckily no bones were broken.
A young couple of Norristown procured a marriage license in 1896. Thinking that tied the nuptial knot they lived together and in the eight years children have been born. About a week ago they learned their mistake and were married by a baptist minister of Norristown.
Rev. F.J. MOHR, who served the St. John's at Richlandtown, and First Reformed church at Quakertown, for about thirty years, handed his resignation to the consistory Saturday. Old age and ill health is the reason that Rev. MOHR took the action he did.
Abner HANSELL, of Swedeland, had his nose nearly kicked off while cleaning a horse in stable on Tuesday. Seventeen stitches were required to restore the nose to anything like a normal condition.
Three-year-old Eliza WATSON, of South Bethlehm, swallowed a three-inch pearl-headed stickpin on Monday morning and coughed it up Thursday afternoon, after suffering terribly for over 80 hours.
Samuel DELP, proprietor of the Elroy Hotel, Franconia township, this county, committed suicide Saturday morning by hanging himself, in a shed adjoining the hotel stables. Mr. DELP's actions are attributed to melancholia, due to business reverses. He had, however, given no intimation of his intended act. Saturday morning DELP arose, as usual, about 5.30 o'clock, and shortly afterward went to the stable. Failing to return a search was made for him by members of the household with the result that his lifeless body was found hanging to a rope in an obscure corner of the shed. DELP was about 45 years old and is survived by a wife and two children. He was well known about the county, having been in charge of a number of well known hostelries. For a number of years he conducted the West Point Hotel. He has been at Elroy about two years.
Rev. Thomas H. LEINBACH, of Spinnerstown, will preach his first sermon at the St. John's Reformed church at Reading, whose call he recently accepted, on Sunday, May 1st. He will receive $800 and parsonage, rent free. This is $500 less than he received at Spinnerstown and Chestnut Hill.
A birthday surprise was tendered to Morris WISLER, of Trumbauersville, in honor of his twenty-first birthday, on Friday evening. He is the teacher of the California school. The evening was pleasantly spent in dancing, after an elaborate lunch.
Out of a list of 3500 fair suitors for his hand, his heart and his little store in Highland township near Gettysburg "Squire" Samuel W. HAMMERS has chosen a wife. The remaining 3499 the thrifty "squire" has turned into money by selling their letters in reply to his now famous advertisement for a wife, to a matrimonial agency. He cleared up $50 by the sale. HAMMERS' bride is a Western girl, whom he found among his list of correspondents. Several years ago HAMMERS advertised for a wife with $5000, and since that time he has received from twenty-five to fifty answers daily. He exchanged pictures with those who wrote to him, and the walls of his store room in Highland township are literally papered with the photographs of widows and maidens who wished to be his better half. During the long winter evenings HAMMERS would amuse the loiters in his store by reading to them choice extracts from his love letters, and they would usually agree with him that those written by widows were much more interesting and to the point than those written by the girls.
The family of Jonas SCHWOYER, a wealthy farmer of Breinigsville, Lehigh County is sadly afflicted. On Thursday SCHWOYER died of pneumonia, aged 75 years, and on Sunday night his wife succumbed to the same disease on her 62d birthday anniversary. A widow of a son who died a year ago was stricken with serious illness on Sunday night, and the wife of an only surviving son is near death's door at the Allentown Hospital from an operation.
The fixtures of the Keystone Laundry of East Greenville, were sold by H.H. TRUMBORE, of Quakertown to the Troy Laundry Company, of Allentown. The new firm took possession this week.
The Republican County Convention was held on Tuesday at the Opera House, Norristown. The regular business was transacted and after the slated candidates for delegate were elected by matter of form, the leaders took up the rest of the time by delivering speeches. The convention was assembled for two objects, the election of nine delegates to represent the county at the State Convention at Harrisburg and the endorsement of Judge A.S. SWARTZ as a candidate for Judge on the Supreme bensch. The convention was called to order at 10 o'clock by County Chairman I.P. KNIPE. After the usual preliminaries had been completed the following names were placed in nomination as State delegates, and elected by acclamation: Walter F. CHILDS, Norristown; Jacob EHST, Douglass, West; Thomas B. HARPER, Jenkintown; A.H. HENDRICKS, Pottstown; B.F. HEVENER, Lower Merion; Ralph KIBBLEHOUSE, Gwynedd; James KILPATRICK, Bridgeport; John M. KUHN, West Telford; N.H. LARZELERE, Norristown. The following committe on resolutions was appointed by Chairman KNIPE: O.F. LENHARDT, Norristown; F.G. HOBSON, Collegeville; A.R. PLACE, Lansdale; A.L. SHOMO, Royersford; Jos. F. FOULKE, Ambler; George SULLIVAN, Lower Merion; I.N. COOKE, Pottstown; Edwin LONSDALE, Springfield; H.W. HALLOWELL, Moreland. The committee later submitted a set of resolutions.
The horse sale of D.K. GRABER, held at the Keely House, East Greenville, on Tuesday was well attended. He sold twenty-five head at an average price of a little over $150. The highest price horse was sold to a Mr. HALL, of Philadelphia, for $291.
At a public sale of personal property of Isaac LANDIS, deceased, at Gratersford, Saturday afternoon, articles commanded big prices. Flower glasses were sold as high as $6 a piece; a spinning wheel was knocked off for $2.25; a Perkiomen railroad bond sold at $1,140; 5 shares Rich avenue Farmes' Market, Philadelphia, at $149 1/2 a share; one share Royersford Trust Company stock, $57 1/2; cream pitcher, $2; case of drawers, $18; desk, $12.25; bed spreads, from $5 up to $36.50; towels from 40 cents us to $3.50 a piece; cups and saucers, from 60 cents to $1.50 per piece. In fact everything offered realized high prices. The sale was conducted by auctioneer Theo. M. MOYER, of Lower Salford township.
The property No. 211 Fourth Street, of the late Caroline KNEULE, of Pennsburg, was on Monday sold at private sale by the Executrix Carrie LONG, to Nathaniel REED, of Red Hill, for $1550. The property was offered at public sale on Saturday but was only bid up to $1525.
Dr. N.B. WILLIAMS the Perkasie physician accused of malpractice claims he is innocent of the charge. He says he never saw Miss CRESSMAN, of Quakertown and in all probability some person was taken to her and introduced as "Dr. Williams."
Mrs. Catharine PLUMM, of Catasauqua, celebrated her 78 birthday anniversary last week by taking her first ride on a railroad. She went from Allentown to Harrisburg and was delighted with the trip.
Joshua KULP, of Philadelphia, has leased the blacksmith shop of H.C. WICKERT, of Pennsburg, and will start the business there on April 4. John KEELER the present tenant will open a blacksmith shop on his lot on Main street near the Pennsburg Toll-gate.
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