News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
The St. Peter Lutheran Church in Bear Branch will celebrate its 140th anniversary on Sunday, June 16th. Reverend Larry Knigga will be the guest speaker at the morning worship service. He is a former part of the Bear Branch congregation and is currently pastor of the St. John Lutheran Church in Rocky Ridge, Ohio.
Melinda Miller, daughter of Ramona Miller of Bennington and Jackie Miller of Indianapolis has been very successful during her college career at Franklin College. She recently earned inclusion on the dean’s list for the spring semester at Franklin, where she will be a senior this fall.
Charles E. Phipps, grandson of Charles and Willa Phipps of Benningon, earned his bachelor of science degree in aeronautical engineering from the University of Texas on May 18th.
Private first class Aaron Clayton Hughes has recently completed basic training in Parris Island, South Carolina, and marine combat training at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He is the son of Sandy Tingle of Madison and Nathan and Donna Hughes of Vevay.
15 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. James Brown of Bennington will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this Saturday, June 15th. The Browns were married June 15th, 1951, in Uniontown, Indiana. Marjorie Brown is postmaster of the Bennington Post Office. Jim Brown, a retired ironworker, operates his own welding business and farms.
Reverend Robert Cannon and his family will be honored by the Vevay-Bennington Charge of the South Indiana Conference, United Methodist Church, at a pitch-in supper in the Vevay church Saturday, June 15th, 6 p.m. Sunday, June 16th, will be the Cannons’ last Sunday at the Vevay and Bennington Churches. Reverend Cannon will begin a new ministry at the East Columbus United Methodist Church in Columbus, Indiana.
Announcement is made of the approaching marriage of Lorri L. Thornton, daughter of Ron and Bootie Thornton of Vevay, and Stan F. Sullivan, son of Robert and Judy Sullivan of North Vernon. The wedding will take place at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, June 22nd, at the Vevay United Methodist Church in Vevay.
Melissa Judy and Tracy Hinman have announced their engagement. They will be married Saturday, June 22nd, at 6:30 p.m. at the Switzerland Baptist Church. Melissa is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Judy of Bennington and Tracy is the son of Leroy Hinman of Florence and Patsy Hinman of Madison.
20 YEAS AGO
Gregory Allan Sloan, son of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Sloan of Vevay, has been selected to play the tuba in “The Marching 100,” the Indiana University, Bloomington, marching band.
Indiana Senator Johnny Nugent of Lawrenceburg presented Angie Mishler, a Switzerland County High School senior, with an Indiana State flag to be given to her host family in Japan. The Tsuyoshi Uno family of Chicaska, Japan, is the host family with whom Angie will be staying during her visit. Chicaska is about one hour from Tokyo.
Many people saw (and helped) a woman in the cemeteries of Switzerland County over the past four years, as she researched the tombstones. All of her hard work on weekends and vacations has culminated in a 512-page book entitled “Switzerland County, Indiana Cemetery Inscriptions 1817-1985.” It was published in April of this year. The author is Wanda L. Morford.
Candidates for the Miss Switzerland County 4-H Queen Contest this year are Ginger Jewell, Rhonda White, Tammy Jones, Betty Goodpaster, Tracy Compton, Marla Devers, Sherry Rowlett, and Danna Jackson.
30 YEARS AGO
Switzerland County’s Farmers Market is open for the season. Sales are held on Market Square in Vevay each Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Already some early garden produce has changed hands at market.
Members of the Switzerland County School Board Monday night set September 13th as a target date for making a decision on whether to embark on a new school building program. The matter has been discussed for more than a year by present members of the Board, who had been working with a tentative proposal that a new school be built near East Enterprise to serve as a consolidation of the four outlying grade schools at Patriot, Florence, Allensville and Pleasant.
Marcia Bowling, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Bowling, route 1, Rising Sun, is a June 15th graduate of The Christ Hospital School of X-ray Technology. She is a 1972 graduate of Rising Sun High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Ed McClellan of Tapps Ridge will celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary June 30th. In honor of the event, an open house for the McClellans will be held Sunday, June 27th, at the home of Chester and Dorothy James, 305 West Main Street, Vevay.
Mrs. Edith Brooks celebrated her 94th birthday last Thursday with a family party at the rising Sun Nursing Home where she resides.
40 YEARS AGO
Robert Elder, who served the past school year as Vevay High School principal, has resigned that position to accept a similar post in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Two young men, both area residents, have combined their money and talents to start a tool corporation in Vevay. Jerry Hamblen is president and Eddie Sieglitz is vice president.
Kenny Noel of 111 E. turnpike Street, Vevay, caught a 7 pound, 11 ounce bass fish June 24th at 9 p.m. in a farm pond.
50 YEARS AGO
Tragedy again struck Switzerland County Tuesday afternoon about 2 o’clock when Dale Hankinson, 13-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. John Hankinson of near Quercus Grove, was drowned in a flash flood on Bryant’s Creek.
James R. Rea, son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Rea, Patriot, has been awarded a four-year academic scholarship to Evansville College. He is a graduate of Patriot High School.
A baby daughter was born Thursday, June 21st, to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Romans, Jr., of Vevay, in King’s Daughters’ Hospital. The little girl weighed 7 pounds, 8 ounces and has been named Alberta Lynn.
A marriage announcement of interest is that of Mrs. Mary Lock, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Lock of Vevay route 3, to Norris E. Krall, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Krall, also of Vevay route 3. the ceremony will be performed Friday evening, June 29th, at 8 p.m. at the Fredonia Baptist Church.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Leona Leep and Private Nelson Hambrick were married in Madison Saturday by Reverend Brown of the Methodist Church.
Miss Mary Evelyn Jennings and Gerald Ramseyer were married Sunday afternoon, June 23rd, in Warsaw, Kentucky by Reverend Curry of the Baptist Church.
The marriage of Miss Wilma Juanita James and Edward Earl McClellan was solemnized Sunday evening, June 23rd, at the Methodist Church in Florence by Reverend David Moe.
Billy Fletcher of Patriot celebrated his 97th birthday Thursday, June 20th. While in poor health he occasionally is brought to town in a wheel chair to greet his friends.
Announcement is being made of the marriage of Miss Nora Sue Griffin of near Dillsboro and Paul Robert Pavy of Fairview on June 21st.
James L. Hercules and Jessie Mae Millan, both of Terre Haute, Indiana, were married in Vevay Saturday, June 22nd, by Justice of the Peace, Jon Baird.
Born, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Webber of Center Square.
70 YEARS AGO
On Monday John Wiley of Florence in company with his daughter, Mrs. Ralph Flannigan and Mr. Flannigan, of Plainfield, Indiana, made his first visit to Vevay in 30 years. For Mr. Wiley, who is nearly 80 years old, it was his second ride in an automobile, the first having been made shortly after the first cars came to Switzerland County.
Born Friday, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Harry Pettit of Moorefield.
Born a son, to Mr. and Mrs. Louie Fisher of East Enterprise.
Miss Lennie Phillips, formerly of this county, for several years a teacher in Barberton, Ohio, and A. W. Haney, also of Barberton, were married June 5th in that city.
The Walter E. Gaudin Lumber Company has received a contract to build a new home and offices on Liberty Street for Dr. G.E. Ellerbrook.
Greta Lee, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Pratt, underwent an operation for appendicitis in a Cincinnati hospital Tuesday.
Rudolph “Tude” Brown, well known Vevay resident, died Thursday at his home here.
80 YEARS AGO
Miss Norma Williams and Chester Callis were married Sunday afternoon at the home of the bride’s parents in Vevay by Reverend Koeth.
Rex Peabody on Monday purchased the Floyd grocery and took possession of the business on Tuesday morning. It will be managed by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Peabody.
While Guy Faner’s car was parked at the ferry landing at Florence Monday night two tires were stolen from the wheels. At the same time a battery was stolen from a car belonging to Walter Dunn.
An unsuccessful attempt was made to burglarize the Ferguson Drug Store in Vevay sometime over the weekend.
Miss Marie McFarland of this county and Grover Pearce of Connersville were married in Vevay Saturday afternoon by Reverend F.E. Hammel.
Born June 24th, a son to Mr. and Mrs. Glenn Crandell of Moorefield.
90 YEARS AGO
Vevay barbers entered into an agreement the first of the week to charge five cents for a neck shave in the future. They also agreed to close their places of business on Wednesday nights at 9 o’clock and Saturday nights at 11 o’clock. All other nights the shops will close at 8 o’clock.
Kirby Danglade of Vevay has received instructions from Governor Ralston to organize a company of volunteer soldiers in Switzerland County. The company will be a part of the First Regiment of Indiana Volunteers and will be under the command of Colonel Thomas Taggart.
Charles Kiesel who has operated a grocery store for more than 30 years will close out his business in Vevay about the first of August.
100 YEARS AGO
The Farmers Mutual Telephone Company has completed trunk lines to East Enterprise, Patriot and Cole’s Corner. Frank Dupraz, manager, states that he has received 25 new phones to go into the Vevay exchange at once.
Eisenbarth and Henderson’s floating theatre, the show that always carries a barrel of bowie knives and revolvers, will be at Vevay Saturday night.
The house of Charles Pelsor at Jay was destroyed by fire Friday while members of the family were working some distance form their home.
Edwin Lanham is home from Purdue University for the summer.
Miss Ida Long has gone to New York to spend the summer.
110 YEARS AGO
Last Tuesday evening a cyclone visited the county, doing a great deal of damage to buildings and fruit trees. On upper Indian Creek, the sawmill of Joseph McClanahan was swept away and the barn of Joseph Protsman was unroofed. the water rushed down the creek in torrents, spreading over the bottoms, destroying a great deal of corn.
During the severe storm yesterday afternoon lightning struck and instantly killed Frank Heady, son of John Heady of upper Indian Creek. He had hauled a load of peaches to Vevay and was on his way home in a wagon when lightning struck him. He was about 25 years of age and unmarried.
Reverend Worth Tippy is visiting Colonel and Mrs. Ward here.
The Old Settlers meeting will be held in Chittendens Grove.
A small cyclone hit Craig Township destroying a barn at John Bray’s place.
Joseph Cousins will teach the colored school in Vevay.
130 YEARS AGO
Wilmer Smith, local editor of the Carrollton Democrat, was in Vevay last Tuesday.
Eugene Bell, age 12 years, fell from a fence and broke one of his arms.
Miss Eva Sherwood of Cincinnati is visiting the Misses Boerner in Vevay.
152 YEARS AGO
Our citizens are probably aware that the Agricultural Fair comes off in this district in September and is to be held in Vevay.
A few days since a man by the name of John Salliers hung himself in Ripley County.
Arrangements have been made by the Sabbath Schools of this place to celebrate the American Independence.
The following gentlemen will act as agents for this paper and one dollar left with any of them will secure the paper for one year. Quercus Grove, Julius Dufour, Mount Sterling, John J. Paul; Craig post office, David Trowbridge; Jacksonville, George McCulloch; Florence, Charles E. Hedge.
Married by Reverend John C. Bonham at Allensville on the 21st, Mr. A. E. Bonham and Miss Nerissa P. Olmsted.