Herbert S. RAUSCH, a student at the Keystone State Normal School, Kutztown, is the tallest person in Berks county, and by far the tallest student ever registered at that school. Although but 18 years old he stands 6 feet 3 1/2 inches in his stockings, and is known as the Berks County Giant. He was born in Windsor township, and his home at present is at Shoemakersville. He weighs 171 pounds and is endowed with enormous strength. Despite his rapid growth, he shows no indication of physicial weakness, and enjoys good health.
Rev. H.A.I. BENNER, of Quakertown, pastor of the charge consisting of the Ridge Valley, Trumbauersville, Zion Hill and Schlichtersville Reformed congregations will in a few weeks celebrate the occasion of the fifth anniversary since he took charge. Last Sunday it was five years that he served these congregations and during this time he baptized 181, confirmed 154, married 36 and buried 105. He took in 49 members by certificate. The total membership is 702. His salary is but $700 a year.
Harry BEILER, of Sellersville, after a short illness of appendicitis and pneumonia, died on Sunday morning, at 6 o'clock. He was to have married Miss Mary CODER, of Quakertown, last Saturday and had procured a marriage license for the event.
Isaac KRIEBEL, of Lower Salford township, has the oldest pear tree on his premises that is known. It is estimated to be about 170 years old, and, notwithstanding its old age, it still bears from 30 to 40 bushels of the delicious fruit every year.
Henry F. LAROS, 40 years old, a prominent shoe merchant of Allentown, on Monday evening ended his life by hanging in the cellar of his store, 709 Hamilton Street. His act was clearly a carefully premeditated deed. Upon coming to the store that morning he remarked to a clerk of his, that he was greatly worried about the condition of his health and that he had a sort of a stroke which had caused him to fall over on Sunday evening. He appeared to brood over this all day and when evening came he told his clerk to tell his wife that he would not be home for supper on account of some business. It appears that after the clerk was gone Mr. LAROS wrote several letters to his wife and child and then went into the cellar and prepared a gallows on which he ended his life. When he failed to appear at his home later in the evening, Mrs. LAROS became worried and had the clerk go back to the store and make a search. He and several officers made the search and found Mr. LAROS hanging from the rafters in the cellar. In the letter to his wife he assigned business troubles as the cause. He is survived by his wife and one daughter besides six sisters.
Frank LIGHTNER, of Rehrersburg Berks County, recently received $3000 for a reward for caring for aged Mrs. Elmina SCHLASEMAN of the same town. She was 80 years old and during her old age Mr. LIGHTNER tended her like a baby. After her death a document drawn up by her gave LIGHTNER, her estate, worth $3000. Relatives later contested but the Judge admitted the document as a will. A witness testified that Mr. SCHLASEMAN told her that her relatives did not care for her, nobody came to see her and that as Mr. LIGHTNER cared for her she thought she had to pay him by giving him her property.
The Goshenhoppen Mutual Fire Insurance of Pennsburg, met at the Pennsburg Hotel, on Tuesday and elected the following directors: Isaac S. RAHN, Perkiomenville; M.K. GILBERT, Pennsburg; J.P. HILLEGASS, Pennsburg; Adam J. DIMMIG, East Greenville; L.S. SHIMER, Shimerville; Erwin C. GERY, Siesholtzville; George KINSEY, Quakertown; P.S. FENSTERMACHER, Allentown; Allen G. REIFF, Souderton; Jeremiah MUTHARD, Boyertown; Henry HAUSSMAN, Pottstown and M.B. LINDERMAN, Limerick. Immediately after the election the board organized by electing Isaac S. RAHN, President; M.K. GILBERT, Secretary, and J.P. HILLEGASS, Treasurer.
Paul HERTEL, of near Geryville, was on Monday evening attacked by a vicious dog belonging to Allen BUTTERWECK, of near the St. Paul's Lutheran church. Mr. HERTEL made a business trip to Philadelphia, and on his way home from the Red Hill depot, while passing Mr. BUTTERWECKs place the dog attacked him and threw him to the ground. The dog was chased away before he bit Mr. HERTEL and he was lucky to escape with a few bruises.
The will of the late Henry LORENTZ, of East Greenville, was admitted to probate at Norristown on Saturday and in it he made a number of public bequests. The Lutheran Orphans' Home at Topton, will receive three hundred dollars and the Lutheran Church at Old Zionsville, of which he was a member, will receive one hundred dollars. The executors named in the will are his wife, Mary Elizabeth LORENTZ and his nephew Alfred J. LORENTZ, both of East Greenville.
The Mozart Club of Perkiomen Seminary met on Monday evening, for the first meeting of the term. The officers elected for the term were: Pres., Della KRATZ; V. Pres., Irene SCHWARTZ; Sec., Mayme REED. Piano solos were played by Rose MERSHON, Louisa KRIEBEL, Victor TRAUB, Herbert TRAUB, and vocal solos were sung by Ida HERSH and Pearl FISHER. The club had a visitor Miss Frieda MARTINI, of Brooklyn, N.J.
Elmer BARNDT, of Lansdale, formerly of Woxall, was on Saturday elected organist of the Reformed and Lutheran congregations of Trumbauersville, by a vote of 108 for and 19 against.
The members of Pennsburg Lodge, No. 449, I.O.O.F., this evening tender a banquet at the Pennsburg Hotel to Henry J. SMITH (picture) and Henry DIMMIG (picture), its two members who have the proud distinction of having been members of the lodge before many of the remaining one hundred and thirty-eight, constituting the organization at this place, were initiated, and who have served the lodge in an official capacity almost since their affiliation, Mr. DIMMIG having served continuously as Treasurer for the past thirty-three years and Mr. SMITH, as Secretary, for the past thirty-one years. In consideration of having been members of the lodge for upwards of forty years, their proficiency in the work of the organization, their lively interest in the success of the order and their long official service they will be signally honored this evening. Invitations have been issued to the banquet, inviting every member, including wives and lady friends, and upwards of one hundred have signified their acceptance, so that more than two hundred will participate in doing honor to the occasion. Pennsburg Lodge, No. 449, has at present one hundred and forty active members and is in a flourishing condition. It is fully equipped with all needful paraphernalia and owns the well known Odd Fellows building, occupied by the Farmers National Bank and the Post-office. The building is a permanent structure, commodiously arranged for the purpose intended and was erected at an outlay of upwards of eight thousand dollars, almost all of which is paid. The lodge was instituted July 18, 1851, the charter members having gone to Macungie to be initiated so as to pave the way for the organization of a lodge at this place. The officers, were instituted and to whom the charter was granted were, Edwin H. BIEBER, Noble Grand; Thomas J. LYNCH, Vice Grand; Daniel HEINS, Secretary; Henry WARTMAN, Assistant Secretary, and Enos ROEDER, Treasurer, none of whom survives.
Howard MUMBAUER, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry S. MUMBAUER, of Pennsburg returned to his home here on Sunday after an absence of more than three years. Shortly after leaving Pennsburg he enlisted in the United States army and during this time he has been in China, Japan and the Philippine Islands. He was a corporal, in Company C., of the United States Infantry and was honorably discharged at Wyoming after a three years service. Mr. MUMBAUER has had some exciting experiences and has seen some hardships while on duty in the Philiphine Islands.
Miss Alice L. YODER, who has been visiting friends at her birthplace, at Bechtelsville, Berks County, returned to resume her missionary work in India, where she owns several hundred acres of land, taking with her plows, harrows and other articles to complete an agricultural outfit.
Lafayette Chamber No. 49 O.K. of F., of Spinnerstown, will on Monday evening February 6 hold an open session. The general public is invited to attend. Rev. James OSWALD, of that town will be present and make an address. A large meeting is expected on the occasion.
Howard W. STETLER, the Pennsburg shoe dealer received an invitation to attend the inauguration of Governor W.L. DOUGLASS, of Massachusetts. The invitation had been delayed in the mails and did not arrive until a day after the event and therefore Mr. STETLER could not attend.
The dog tax in Bucks County, which will be distributed to the various school districts, amounts to $2171.89.
A sneak thief has for some time been stealing eggs from the chicken house and corn from the granary at the American House, this borough. Mr. HARLEY, the proprietor for some time did not receive any eggs from his chickens which aroused his suspicions, so he put a lock on his hennery and ever since he gets the usual number of eggs.
Noah FAGLEY Sr., of Fagleysville, was bitten in the hand by a vicious dog and as a result he is suffering with a badly swollen hand. Dr. S.A. KNIPE, of New Hanover is the attending physician and he fears blood poisoning.
Florence, daughter of Willam MAYBERRY, of near Linfield, was bitten through the shoe by a mad dog making a slight mark. A large number of dogs in the neighborhood were bitten and all have been killed. Howard KUGLER succeeded in killing the mad dog.
A bill in equity has been filed by the Evangelical Mennonite congregation, of Quakertown, praying the Court of Common Pleas of Bucks county, to enjoin and restrain Rev. M.A. ZYNER, from exercising any of the functions of pastor of the church. It also prays that Henry SMITH, Franklin SCHULER and Stephen TRUMBAUER, trustees, be enjoined from permitting Pastor ZYNER's exercise of the functions of pastor, and that the persons named be restrained from preventing Rev.William S. HOTTEL from entering upon the pastorate. It appears from the bill that Rev. Mr. ZYNER had certain charges preferred against him by the presiding elder at a conference held at Reading, and that afterward he and his followers interfered with the plans of the church.
Mrs. Martha SEIP and Harry WILSON, of Hereford township, were committed to jail in Reading last week by Constable Milton M. GERY, of Hereford, on warrants issued by 'Squire Henry BOWER, of the same township. The prosecutor against both is Martin SEIP, husband of the woman, who charges her with adultery, while WILSON is charged with surety of the peace.
Howard B. REINERT, of Huff's Church, shot 164 rabbits, 27 partridges, seven pheasants, two wild ducks, four prairie hens, 34 red squirrels, three minks, one raccoon, two oppossums, two hawks and one owl. Mr. REINERT claims the championship of Berks county. There probably is no one in the county that can equal this record.
Vincent H. HEAVENER, of Pottstown, brought suit at Norristown against the Delaware & Atlantic Telegraph and Telephone Company for $10,000, for the breaking of a leg by the fall of a pole which he was assisting in raising.
The county's expenditures in 1904 were $436,698. It cost $47,918 to maintain the almshouse and $13,570 to conduct the prison. The dog tax amounted to $1263 and $500 was paid for dog-killed sheep.
There will be a match shoot between Mr. GAYLOR, of Norristown, and Albert GEIST, of Fagleysville, for a purse of $50, this afternoon at Charles KNIPE's, Lamb Hotel, at Trappe.
Mrs. Kate BISSEY, of Tinicum, Bucks County has three quilts made by herself which contain 5680, 10,000 and 23,328 pieces respectively.
Eddie PARULI, aged 3 years fell into a tub of boiling water at Old Forge, near Pittson, Pa., and was dead when discovered by his mother, a few minutes later.
The Macungie School Board last evening elected John W. TAYLOR, of Donaldson, to teach the Grammar School there the rest of the term.
Two months of terrapin catching netted 3671 successes for Matthias FRITZ, of Kutztown.
While Chapman VANLUVANEEE was engaged in doing some work in the cellar of B.F. SHEARER at Dublin, Bucks county, he noticed something crawling along on the floor, resembling a small snake. Upon investigation it proved to be a lizard, over seven inches in length. The little reptile was caught with some difficulty, placed in a jar and exhibited in Mr. SHEARER's store for several days. The lizard was one of the most poisonous known, belonging to a species called the "Heloderma Horridum," and is found principally in Mexico. Its tubercles are of a dirty brown and yellow color, resembling that of a leprous skin, and its bites are claimed to be as poisonous as that of a rattler. Just how the little reptile got here is a mystery.
By the will of George STEVENS, of Reading, his widow received $46,890.59 personal property and the income from $73,356.19, the latter to be paid semi-annually. In the event of her marriage or death he directed that the entire principal, real and personal, should revert to Ellen C. STEVENS, his sister. This will now take place, and the entire amount of Mrs. STEVENS' inheritance will be taken from her. She has been living with her sister, Mrs. HOLTZMAN, wife of the Mayor of Indianapolis, and cards announcing her marriage to James Edward ROBERTS, a retired citizen of Indianapolis were received at Reading on Monday.
Charles P. ELLIOTT, of North Wales, is the builder of a miniature engine, whose construction took his spare time for twelve weeks. The locomotive is a fair reproduction of the Reading Railways's familiar type, the cab being set on the boiler in front of the Wooten fire-box. Its height is 8 1/2 inches and length over all 28 inches. The pony wheels are 1 1/4 inches in diameter, the driving wheels 3 inches and the tender wheels 1 1/2 inches, all being castings. All other metal used was cut from sheets. The boiler is 2 1/2 inches in diameter and the cylinders are 1 inch in diameter, the little model is a real steam engine and can be propelled by that power.
John GREEN, a "hobo" had a foot amputated at the Charity Hospital, Norristown, that had been frozen.
Private bequests aggregating $290,000 are made in the will of Francis G. STINSON, who, at the time of his death recently, was president of the First National Bank, of Norristown. Of this sum the testator gives $155,000 to his wife, who also is bequeathed all of his real estate in Norristown. The legatee of the residue of the estate, after the payment of all specific bequests is the Aged Woman's Home of Montgomery County, at Norristown, the founding of which was provided for by the will of a sister of the testator. No statement of the estate having been filed, the amount of the residue, which is inherited by the Aged Woman's Home, is not known. It probably will be considerable, as the banker was rated the wealthiest man in Norristown.
The healthfulness of the climate of Hellertown has often been commented upon not only by its own citizens, but by strangers as well, and the same is clearly proven by the vital statistics of the borough. The age of 11 residents of that borough is nearly 1000 years, each being over 80. Such a proportion of hale and hearty elderly people in a total population of not more than 900 is a record which stands high. The persons who have attained these years are Jacob SCHNEIDER, Joseph DIEHL, Abraham FEHR, Jacob NICKUM, James KICHLINE, Martha Ann BOEHM, Elizabeth BACHMAN, Mary RENTZHEIMER, Cecelia HAGEY, Catharine KLINKER and Elizabeth RIEGEL.
Stanley ZIAJAKA, Albert MILLER and Martin MACEY, about 16 years old, were arrested on Monday at Reading, as leaders of a gang of twelve who made it a daily practice of stealing twelve to twenty quart bottles of milk, delivered to doors of customers on the outskirts of the city. All this milk they consumed, said, and then destroyed the bottles. The odd part of the affair is that there should be any 16-year-old boys in Reading addicted to milk, but one of the lads admits it.
Mrs. Mary T. DEFOREST, of Rensselaer County, New York, by her will bequeaths to John J. GALLOGLY, cashier of the National Exchange Bank, of Albany, a farm and homestead worth $20,000 and $150,000 in personal property. Mrs. DEFOREST was 82 years old when she died and her bequest to Mr. GALLOGLY was in recognition of his courtesy and kindness to her during her visits to the bank.
Mrs. William GAUNTNER, near Altoona, had her left foot shot off by her dress catching the hammer of a loaded gun. Her husband was cleaning it as she passed him.
A Heidelberg League, composed of the younger members of the Trinity Reformed church near Spinnerstown, was on Sunday afternoon organized. The officers elected were: Elmer A. ROEDER, President; Howard LINSENBIGLER, Vice President; Miss Elma B. KEIPER, Secretary, and Horace M. ROEDER, Treasurer.
Last Modified