News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Naomi (Blume) Bliss, 93, of Charlestown, formerly a resident of Switzerland County, passed away Thursday, August 15tb, at Clark Memorial Hospital in Jeffersonville. She was the author of two books, “Gumption: The Memory Stories of Naomi Blume Bliss” and “The Gift of Being Old,” both published by Cotton’s Hollow Press of Vevay. She was a former school teacher, director of the Switzerland County Welfare Department, and parole officer for the State of Indiana.
Christina Lynn Wiesmann, a 1996 graduate of Switzerland County High School, will be attending the University of Evansville this fall. She is the daughter of Eugene and Sherrie Wiesmann of near Vevay.
Emily Mahorney has been accepted as a student at Taylor University’s Fort Wayne campus, beginning with the upcoming fall semester. She is the daughter of Richard and Corrine Mahorney.
The Olive Branch Baptist Church will celebrate its 150th anniversary with special programs on Sunday, September 8th.
15 YEARS AGO
The family of John and Nadine Hankinson will celebrate the couple’s 50th wedding anniversary Saturday, August 24th, at the Historical Building in Rising Sun. John and Nadine reside in Quercus Grove.
Born in a small house near Fairview in 1896, Lois (Ward) Taul of Versailles is preparing to celebrate her 95th birthday August 31st.
Gary Stogsdill of Switzerland County won the Indiana state championship “flat tracker” dirt bike race last Friday night at the Lawrenceburg Speedway. The 17-year-old Stogsdill, a senior at Switzerland County High School, drove his 500cc bike to victory in the Open B Class race – the “Big Bike” competition, with speeds up to 90 miles per hour. The other 15 racers who qualified for the championship race drove bigger bikes, 6700cc in size, but Stogsdill was fastest.
20 YEARS AGO
Some local horse pullers traveled to the Kentucky State Fair on Saturday, August 23rd, to compete. There were 17 teams involved in the pull. The first place winning team belongs to Fay Hart of Switzerland County, and Dale Benham, Osgood. The team pulled 9,750 pounds a distance of 13.2 feet. Another local horse puller competing was Butch Konkle, Vevay, who teamed up with the Humphrey Brothers to come in third, pulling 9,750 pounds 6.5 feet. Jack Armstrong, route 1, Patriot, entered his team and it came in seventh, pulling 9,250 pounds 15.7 feet.
Doris Dixon was surprised on Sunday morning to have a balloon drop in on her. And then to find out that two of the crew members were friends of Doris and her husband Don. They were Don and Lucille (Rieman) Bunger of Golden, Colorado. Don Bunger is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Fenton Bunger, Quercus Grove, and Lucille is the daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Howard Rieman of Switzerland County.
30 YEARS AGO
You can get most anything you want at Vevay’s Farmers Market – including a king-sized cabbage that weighs in at a hefty 13 pounds. It was grown by Mrs. Thomas May, Sr., of Lake Geneva.
Timothy Scudder is home on leave after completing basic training with the U.S. Marine Corps at Parris Island, South Carolina. Private Scudder is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie Scudder of Harrison, Ohio, and is the grandson of Mrs. Agnes Scudder of Patriot and of Mrs. Carrie Scott of Vevay. He’ll leave soon for advanced training in California.
Keith Black, son of Joe and Mabel Black of near Florence, will be home on leave Labor Day weekend from Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he’s in basic training with the U.S. Army. He’ll be stationed at Fort Hood in Texas after he completes basic training.
Lynne Hyde, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Don Hyde of Keenesburg, Colorado, finished sixth overall in the National High School Rodeo, an eight-day event held this year in Sulphur, Louisiana and including young rodeo riders from 29 states and Canada. Lynne is the granddaughter of Mrs. Pauline Hyde and of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Cole, all of Vevay.
Carol Ann Petren and John Edward McKay were united in marriage Saturday, August 21st, in Hudson, New Hampshire. The groom is the son of Dr. and Mrs. J. Robert McKay of Vevay.
40 YEARS AGO
The marriage of Miss Judi Smith and Kent Hadley was solemnized Saturday afternoon at Danville Friends Church. The bride is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Smith of Vevay and the groom is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Hadley of Danville.
William R. Cole of Mount Sterling won four ribbons at the Indiana State Fair last week for his entries in burley tobacco exhibits. He was the only Switzerland County farmer to gain recognition.
With the Vietnam situation continuing to escalate, Switzerland County’s October quota of Selective Service inductions has been set at 12, the highest monthly figure here since the 1950s.
Switzerland County Saddle club will be host Saturday afternoon and evening of Indiana State Championship Horse Pulling Contest.
50 YEARS AGO
After hanging in its place for more than 60 years, the sign marking the dental office of Dr. C. H. Geiger on Main Street has been removed and the office has been dismantled. Dr. Geiger has retired from active practicer after having conducted one of the oldest businesses in Vevay.
Miss Bonnie Ashcraft, 19-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ira Ashcraft, has been chosen by the local Junior Chamber of Commerce to represent Vevay in the Madison Regatta beauty queen contest.
About 180 boats are expected to run in all classes of the fourth annual Vevay Regatta, Sunday, according to race officials. The national champion of the American Power Boat Association is expected to be entered.
Miss Donna Peak, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Clyde Peak, became the bride of Raymond Dennis, son of Mr. and Mrs. McKinley Dennis of Bear Branch, in a ceremony August 31st in Rising Sun.
Dr. Clyde G. Culbertson of Indianapolis, one of Switzerland County’s most famous sons, has been named recipient of the distinguished citizenship award of the Eleventh District of the American Legion for his work with the Salk polio vaccine. Dr. Culbertson is currently serving as director of the biological research division of Eli Lilly and Company and he was a leader in the development of the Salk vaccine program.
60 YEARS AGO
Miss Mabel Kirkpatrick, for some time past an employee of the County Welfare Office, has resigned her position as clerk-typist. Harold A. Jaynes has been given a temporary appointment to the vacated position.
the marriage of Charles A. Pratt, Jr., of Vevay to Miss Phyllis Moore, of Franklin, Indiana, was solemnized Monday, September 2nd, at the First Presbyterian Church in Franklin by Dr. J. Stone.
Miss Elaine Callahan and David Henry, both of near Florence, were married at Carrollton, Kentucky, Saturday, August 31st, at the home of Reverend Cecil Ellison.
Logan Washmuth, a native of this county, his nephew, John L. Washmuth, and Miss Kathleen List, fiancee of John Washmuth, all of Indianapolis, were drowned in the Ohio River near Lamb, Saturday afternoon when their small outboard motor boat was swamped by water from a towboat.
Miss Barbara Stanton of Martinsville, Indiana, has signed a contract to teach music in the Vevay schools during the current term.
One of the busiest places in Switzerland County is the Vevay airport with planes going in and out manned by students in various stages of flying efficiency. Included in the flyers now handling planes solo are Robert and Raymond Gaudin, Jack Sullivan, Jr., Raymond Roberts, Paul Andrew, Robert LeClerc, Robert Detraz, Robert Ackerman, Paul Vernon Sieglitz, and Ralph Heath. Walter Gaudin and Walter Peters, both advanced flyers, have purchased a plane.
70 YEARS AGO
With the coming of cooler weather the Vevay ice plant has been enabled to place several tons of ice in its storage rooms and fill orders as received. Owners of the plant indicated Tuesday that from now on there would be no trouble maintaining a full supply.
Miss Evelyn Schroeder was united in marriage to Waldron Jones of Cincinnati Saturday evening at the home of her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Schroeder of Posey Township. The ceremony was performed by her brother, Reverend Ernest Schroeder.
A petition is being circulated among citizens of Vevay to restore the town to its original status of a city with a mayor and the regular council of five.
The Fancher Variety Store is being vacated by the Wegenere Dry Goods Company.
Mayor Edward Bowes has filed suit against Captain J. W. Menke of the showboat Roleen Rod, to restrain the latter from using the title “Major Bowes Amateurs.” It is reported that the bona-fide amateurs who played at Vevay, left the boat in a body at Rockport, Indiana, and since that time Menke has carried on with another group of performers using the name “Bowes.”
Miss Dorothy Opal Lehman and Robert M. Hines, both of Jefferson County, were married in Vevay Tuesday evening by Reverend Badgett.
Mrs. C.P. Buschmann has purchased the interest of William Johnston in the National Restaurant on Ferry Street.
Miss Helen Danner of Carrollton, Kentucky, and Parker Gammons of Bedford, Kentucky, were married Saturday afternoon by Reverend Fred S. Griffith at his home here.
80 YEARS AGO
The new steel bridge being erected over Indian Creek near Vevay came near being destroyed when the creek ran out and drift was swept against the pilings.
Miss Esther Walter of Cleves, Ohio and Edward Craig of Carrollton, Kentucky, were married in Vevay last week by Reverend A. K. Johnson.
Miss Bernice Drake and Bert Brandon, both of route 1 Vevay, were married Saturday.
The first issue of the Gallatin County News, Warsaw, Kentucky, edited by Ed Lamkin and published by James and Edgar Pendry of Vevay, has been printed.
Captain Henry Banta, aged 85, died at his home in Hanover, Indiana, Sunday morning after a lengthy illness. Captain Banta was born in this county near Braytown. At the beginning of the Civil War he enlisted as a private and served three years being discharged a sergeant. He returned to Switzerland County, organized a new company and reentered the service as captain, serving until the end of the war.
The fire last week which destroyed the store, dwelling and barn of Charles Seymour at Fairview is being investigated by the state fire marshal.
Born, a son, Leland Everett, to Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Hankins.
90 YEARS AGO
Harry Davidson, former Vevay boy who conducts a produce business in Madison, has rented a room on Ferry Street and has opened a branch of his produce business here. Clyde Brindley will be in charge of the local concern.
Four members of Company I, 117th Indiana, held a reunion at the East Enterprise fairgrounds Saturday and fought over again many of the important battles of the Civil War. The four were A. J. Works, Henry D. Tinker, Thomas Montayne, all of this county, and Bruce Downey of Paris, Illinois. The 117th was more commonly known as the Persimmon Brigade, owing to the fact that the soldiers were compelled to live on persimmons for several weeks.
Unknown persons last week stole four new fish nets belonging to Bernie Jones and Fred Jennings.
Miss Florence Cunningham has resigned her position as principal of the Patriot High School and Miss Alma House of East Enterprise has accepted the position.
100 YEARS AGO
Marion Brindley, 14, son of James T. Brindley of Craig Township, was accidentally shot by his elder brother, Raymond, 18, Monday when the latter mistook the red shirt of the former for a squirrel moving in the woods. The accident occurred on the farm of John McKenzie. Raymond carried his brother a half mile to the McKenzie home to summon a doctor. The boy was seriously injured but is expected to recover.
Mayor Wallace J. Cotton began another four year term Monday. He reappointed C. C. Stepleton as city marshal.
On Tuesday of this week the steamer Levi J. Workum was sold to Captain M. L. Hissem of California, Kentucky. He immediately took possession and will captain the boat himself on its runs between Madison and Cincinnati.
Sherman Long, a former Vevay boy, is chief engineer on the City of Cincinnati.
Lon Noble has been promoted to second mate on the steamer Louisville.
There is an unusually good stage of water on the river for this time of year.
Commodore Laidley has increased the fare on the steamer Hattie Brown. It is now 50 cents from Brooksburg to Madison and the same from Carrollton to Madison.
Dr. Greenleaf has sold his property in Markland to Charles Burke of Cincinnati.
Barney Klenburg has purchased of the Norisez heirs their 15 acre farm near Vevay.
110 YEARS AGO
F. P. Dupraz was severely gored by a bull Tuesday while he was preparing to take the animal to the fair at East Enterprise.
At the Old Settlers meeting, an exhibition of weaving was given. Mrs. Rachel Rodgers donated a bundle of flax and an old brake. The breaking was done by Henry Demaree who went through the processes of swingling and hackeling which prepared the flax for the spinning wheel. Mrs. Ford spun the flax into threads ready for weaving. Many people had never seen such work done before. Horace Stow, 91, of East Enterprise, the oldest man present contributed a paper on the history of his life. Samuel Wiesmann, 63, also wrote a paper on his life.
130 YEARS AGO
Married August 30th by Reverend Adkinson, Liberius C. Gordon to Miss Julia A. Lauderbaugh.
A series of articles by Perret Dufour, Esquire, called Early Times in Switzerland County, has started in the Vevay Reveille.
152 YEARS AGO
Married September 6th at Quercus Grove by Reverend E. W. Burress, Indianus A. Humphrey and Miss Helen Keeney. Married at the same time and place, Cornelius H. Humphrey and Miss Jane Ann Harris.
The river is lower at this time of year than it has been since 1832. Last week a whole drove of mules forded the river at this place without swimming. We hear that the mail carrier between Vevay and Ghent is actually going to ferry the mail on horse back.
T. W. Graham is reported to have sold his ferryboat to Rising Sun people for use there and he will build a larger boat.