News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
When the National FFA convention convenes today (Thursday), a member of the local Switzerland County chapter will be one of nine official delegates for the State of Indiana. Senior Natalie Gray was selected to represent the state by the Indiana Executive Committee — which she is a part of. Seven of the nine delegate spots automatically go to the state FFA officers, and the other two are selected on the basis of their outstanding accomplishments in FFA. Natalie Gray currently serves as the district 12 president of FFA, which covers 12 schools around the area.
Ralph and Carolyn (Copeland) Morton of near Pleasant will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Friday, November 10th. Their children, Rosemary, Ron, and Rita, are providing the Mortons with a return trip to Renfro Valley, Kentucky, in honor of their milestone. Renfro Valley is where the couple spent their honeymoon.
Raymond Otter, after 27 years of protecting the Town of Vevay, has retired due to health problems. For 27 years, Raymond Otter has been patrolling the streets of Vevay as a town policeman. He began his career in 1968 as a deputy marshal under Fred Jennings. In 1971, he stepped up to the town marshal’s position, and has held it ever since.
15 YEARS AGO
Hazel Wiley, a former Switzerland County resident, recently won first place in the State Fair of Texas for a blue and yellow quilt she made. Her granddaughter, Kathy Lee of Dallas, Texas, entered the quilt in the fair without her grandmother’s knowledge.
Switzerland County was one of the counties honored at the Annual Fall Awards meeting for Farm Bureau District 10 recently. Awards were given highlighting excellence in 10 different categories. Switzerland County received four bronze, three silver, and one gold star.
Darwin Johnson Thomas III completed his degree requirements from Indiana University in Bloomington in August. His degree is Specialist in Education.
The Switzerland County Classroom Teachers Association is promoting the “Always a River” theme in classroom projects and assignments during the 1990-1991 school year. Teachers are pursuing this project in conjunction with the “Always a River” barge which will be docking in Vevay July 25th-28th, 1991.
20 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County was stunned early Monday morning with the unexpected death of David W. Waltz, 47, a teacher at the Switzerland County High School and a local real estate broker with Hoosier Hills Realty.
Charles A. Lorch, son of Charles K. and Ruth Lorch of Vevay, has been appointed a sergeant in the U.S. Air Force. He is a vehicle operator and dispatcher at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, with the 833rd Transportation Squadron.
Jill Demaree of Cross Plains joined the Ball State University residence hall staff for the fall quarter. She is a graduate of Switzerland County High School and is the daughter of Mrs. Carol Swinney of route 1, Cross Plains.
Mrs. and Mrs. Carroll B. Long of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, announce the marriage of their daughter, Jane Marie, to Steven Gary Hewitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. David C. Hewitt of route 3, Vevay.
30 YEARS AGO
A light turnout of voters gave Democrat candidates heavy majorities in Vevay’s town election Tuesday. Winning the clerk-treasurer position was Donna Rayles and Democrat town chairman was Maurice Sullivan. The three board members are Edsel Detraz, Mode Martin, and Roy Branham.
Plans to build offices for the new county court system in t he courtroom of the Switzerland County Courthouse have been abandoned. Instead, the Switzerland County Court will occupy the Courthouse offices now used by the County Highway Department and the Switzerland County office of the state’s Co-operative Extension Service, and the Co-operative Extension Service will move to the County Building.
The Switzerland County Community Activities Organization will meet November 20th to discuss raising money for building a tennis court. The group met last week and made preliminary plans for the tennis court project.
Roy Manuel was honored Sunday on his retirement after 20 years of service to the East Enterprise State Bank. Bank officials, employees and their families gathered at the Manuel home in Versailles to present Mr. Manuel with a coin clock, a large floral piece, and two cakes decorated for the occasion. Mr. Manuel joined the bank in 1955, as assistant cashier. Upon his retirement, he held the title of executive vice president. During that 20-year period, Mr. Manuel said, the bank’s assets increased from about $500,000 to nearly $2.4 million. H
40 YEARS AGO
Gerald L. Griffin, whose wife, Carole, lives on rural route 1, Rising Sun, was promoted October 25th to specialist five in Germany where he is a member of the Seventh U.S. Army Support Command.
Marine Private Gerald Ramseyer of route 4, Vevay completed individual combat training October 23rd with the Second Infantry Training Regiment at the Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton.
Martin R. Green has been reelected as president of Southeastern Indiana Coon Hunters Association for 1966 as were Ralph Niccum as vice president, Ray Brown as secretary, and Bud Van Tyle as treasurer.
50 YEARS AGO
Miss Mattie Roberts and Mr. Fred Miller were married Sunday evening at the home of the bride by her uncle, Reverend Ernest Roberts of Oden.
Marshal Fred Jennings tells us that he has two or three “Cattle Crossing” signs brought into Vevay during Halloween and belonging to farmers. Anyone who has lost a sign like this should contact Marshal Jennings.
Mrs. Dorothy Burley, Switzerland County public health nurse, has opened her office in a room on Main Street which was formerly occupied by the Vevay Town Board.
Miss Clara Davis, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Davis of Aurora, formerly of Vevay, was married in Norfolk, Virginia, on October 31st to Clarence Wesley Dickason of the U.S. Navy. Mr. Dickason is the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Dickason of Batavia, Ohio, formerly of Cross Plains.
Mrs. Cleo Gray, 28, of Hamilton, Ohio, pancaked her Piper Cub training plane in a field near the Alps drive-in theatre Monday afternoon about two o’clock after she lost her way and attempted to land to get her bearings.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Evelyn Oatman and Robert Vernon Fisher, both of Posey Township, were married at the home of Reverend R.C. McNeely Thursday, November 1st.
A marriage license was issued Wednesday to Wilbur D. Ricketts of Bennington and Miss Dorothy MacPringle of Dillsboro.
James K. Danglade, publisher of this newspaper, who has been stationed in Nancy, France, as an American Red Cross Director, returned to Vevay Tuesday after having landed at New York on Friday.
The Patriot Post Office moved the past week to the Allen building at Third and Main.
Born Saturday, a daughter, Donna Jean, to Mr. and Mrs. Donald Robinson of Posey Township. The baby’s father is with the U.S. Army somewhere in the South Pacific.
Ora Gullion and son Gerald have leased the store building of George Banta on Main Street and plan to open an electrical appliance store.
70 YEARS AGO
Scott Rayl, well known resident of Vevay, was found dead on the island above Vevay Monday evening. He had gone to that place early in the morning to cut up drift wood and upon failing to return home a search was started by his son Earl Rayl, who found his father’s body being guarded by his faithful little dog.
The entire Republican ticket was swept into office by a heavy avalanche of votes at the town election held in Vevay last Tuesday.
The United States Post Office at Fairview has been discontinued, according to an order received there last week by Everett Kinsey, present Postmaster.
Maurice C. Scott, 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Scott, died at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Abram Scott, on Pleasant Ridge, Saturday morning after an illness of scarlet fever.
80 YEARS AGO
Miss Agnes M. Smith of Pleasant and J. Howard Schmunk of Fairbault, Minnesota, were united in marriage Sunday afternoon, October 25th, at the bride’s home. The ceremony was performed by the father of the groom, Reverend F.W. Schmunk, assisted by Reverend Clair E. Malcomson.
The Vevay Battery gave a big fish fry here.
Died in Vevay, James Albro, 83, well known Civil War veteran.
90 YEARS AGO
Harry Myers died Wednesday morning from injuries received five months ago. At that time four horses hitched to a binding machine ran away and he was caught beneath the platform of the machine, causing multiple injuries.
When the new rural carrier is appointed to fill the vacancy on Vevay, route 2. It will be a man who will carry the mail in an automobile. Postmaster Griffith last week wrote to Washington for permission to use an automobile regularly on route 2.
Mr. and Mrs. Millard Bowers of Moores Hill drove to Vevay Sunday on their motorcycle and were the guests of Mr. and Mrs. A.J. Porter.
Garret Krigga is suing his father-in-law John Benne for $15,000 for false affidavits leading to his incerceration in Cragmont.
Henry Chase of Plum Creek was injured when struck by a tree limb which fell on him.
Silas Furnish of Craig Township was painfully injured when struck in the eye by a weed chip.
Married here by Earl B. Williams, Miss Flora Hyden of Markland and Clarence Mitchell of Henderson, Kentucky.
Married in Madison by Reverend Boyer, Miss Mary L. Burton and Frank Weales both of Vevay.
The home of Mrs. Annie Laurie Brown here was robbed three times during the past summer.
100 YEARS AGO
Charles C. Shaw, cashier of the Vevay Deposit Bank was elected Vice President of the Fourth District Indiana Bankers Association in Indianapolis.
Stanley Ryan, 22, a young Pleasant Township farmer, was shot and seriously wounded by Jennie Moody, 17, of Vevay.
Fred Cramer jumped off the steamer, George Mattheson, here to drown in the Ohio River.
110 YEARS AGO
About 165 guests attended the marriage of Miss Nannie E. Rous to Robert E. Tilton at the home of the bride’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Frank Rous on October 23rd.
John F. Patton is to edit the Vevay Democrat and M.C. Walden will continue to edit the Vevay Times.
Edward E. Kelso last Monday entered upon the duties of his office as County Clerk. William H. Madison of East Enterprise is his deputy.
A saw mill on Long Run owned by J.F. Brown was damaged by fire this week.
Will S. McKay has donated land to enlarge the Braytown cemetery.
Licenses to marry: Isaac Froman and Eva Romans; Levi Clark and Rosa Cotton; John Travis and Lizzie Taylor; Granville Johnson and Gracie Bales.
Wesley Anderson of Five Points gave a surprise party at his home Wednesday night in honor of the birthdays of his daughters, Gertrude and Clara.
Mr. and Mrs. Crawford Miller celebrated their 30th wedding anniversary with a family gathering October 26th.
130 YEARS AGO
Frank Livings of Cotton Township has been given a job in the law office of his brother, Theodore Livings, here.
Mrs. Mary Wycoff, formerly of Vevay, has opened a millinery store in Lebanon, Indiana.
William Hall is President of the Board of Trustees of Vevay.
The Vevay, Mount Sterling and Versailles Turnpike collected $223.83 during October.
The following have been elected as officers of the Good Templars here: John Moxley, Jennie Miller, Mary Rous, Mrs. William Archer, Dick Archer, Maggie Cole, Will M. Shaw, Hattie Whallon, Reverend Thomas Whallon, William Daly, Lizzie Strain, Henry Murphy, Reverend R.D. Black and Edward Golay.
John Gill took over the Auditor’s office here from Major William Patton who resigned to organize a lumber business in Cincinnati.
Married October 27th by Esquire David Lee, Catherine Hizer and John Oatman.
140 YEARS AGO
Dr. Ridgeway, having sold his property in this place to Dr. Thompson, left here for Indianapolis last week.
Captain F.L. Courviser, after having served his county faithfully for the past three years, has returned home and associated himself in business with C. A. Thiebaud under the firm name of Thiebaud and Courviser.
Our friend William Faulkner has presented us with some as fine honey as we have looked upon or tasted.
152 YEARS AGO
H. A. Downey of Rising Sun was appointed Prosecuting Attorney for Switzerland and Ohio counties in place of Carter Gazley who resigned.
Dr. Baxter of Vevay is opening dental offices in Ghent, Kentucky and Warsaw, Kentucky.
William Daly has the most elaborate tailor shop in Vevay.