News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
Those Switzerland Countians who watched Indiana Governor Frank O’Bannon’s State of the State speech on television may have seen a familiar face. Bob Coleman, the newest deputy on Switzerland County sheriff John Johnson’s staff, was invited to Indianapolis by the Governor to be spotlighted during the speech. He was among a number of Hoosier citizens who was asked to stand at different points in the address by Governor O’Bannon. Bob Coleman was hired by the Switzerland County sheriff’s office as an additional deputy through a grant that the state developed to help put more law enforcement officers on the street.
On New Year’s Eve, 1947 – 50 years ago – Mary E. Wiley of Vevay became the bride of Allen B. Carr of Harrison, Ohio. They were married in the Methodist Church. In honor of the couple’s 50th anniversary, an open house for family was hosted by their family at their home in Dayton, Ohio. Mary Carr is the daughter of Lyda Wiley of Vevay.
Melinda J. Miller and Douglas Allen Hunt have announced their engagement and approaching marriage. The bride-to-be is the daughter of Ramona Miller of Allensville and Jackie Miller of Indianapolis. The prospective groom is the son of Wayne and Kathy Hunt of Allensville.
15 YEARS AGO
The Switzerland County FFA officers were named the “Most Focus Chapter” at the Indiana FFA Leadership Development Workshop. Officers are Natalie Gray, treasurer; Gina Simon, student advisor; Bob Morton, sentinel; Dan Andrew, vice president; Jediah French, president; Torrey Curry, secretary; and Chad Hart, reporter.
Steve Lohide, grandson of Margaret Martin of Vevay, married Norma Ellison October 10th at the Creighton United Methodist Church in Phoenix, Arizona. Steve is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Lohide of Indianapolis. Norma is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norman Ellison of Winslow, Arizona.
20 YEARS AGO
Michelle Jackson was crowned Homecoming Queen Friday night. Neal Curran was selected as the FHA Honey at the Homecoming Dance following the ball game. The Pacers were defeated by Gallatin County 68-59.
Brian W. Browning, a freshman at Vincennes University, was among the 664 students who were included on the Dean’s List for the fall term. Brian is the son of Wayne and Nancy Browning, route 3, Vevay, and is studying law enforcement.
40 YEARS AGO
A study to determine the need for a bridge over Markland Dam was ordered by William Hazelrigg, Kentucky highway commissioner, following a meeting on the bridge question last Tuesday in Frankfort. The meeting was attended by civic leaders from Switzerland County as well as from counties in Kentucky.
Mrs. Hattie E. Jackson celebrated her 99th birthday Saturday, January 6th, at her Vevay home where she lives with her daughter, Mrs. Gladys Moreillon. She is the oldest member of Bennington Methodist Church which she joined when she was 11 years old.
Dr. Noel S. Graves of Vevay has been elected district and state delegate from Switzerland County for Jefferson-Switzerland County Medical Society.
Kenny Clemons, 1967 president of Vevay Kiwanis Club, received a plaque in his honor presented by Raymond Osborn, Jr., incoming 1968 Kiwanis president. Clemons received the honor for his leadership during his term as club president.
Denny Brown and Jim Stultz, friends, classmates, and Vevay High School basketball teammates, held a reunion in Vevay this week, talking over old times and catching up on some of the latest Warrior basketball news in The Vevay Reveille-Enterprise. Among Vevay’s all-time high scorers, the two were Warrior starters together for 3 1/2 years. Upon graduation in 1965 both joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Jim has just returned from a tour of duty in Vietnam where Denny served earlier and was decorated for wounds received during combat.
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Harvey Scudder left this week for Lake Wales, Florida, where they plan to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, January 18th. Mr. Scudder served two terms as County Commissioner and this is his 8th year as County Councilman.
Linda, small daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Amie Peelman, Jr., is recovering from an accident in which a kettle of hot water was poured on her right limb burning it to the knee. Mrs. Peelman was carrying the water when another little daughter, Peggy Ann, ran into her knocking the water on Linda.
An alert watchdog saved his owner the loss of his business cash early Monday morning by frightening off a thief who had pried open a money drawer. Leon Sullivan, proprietor of Sullivan’s Service Station at Center Square credited his medium-sized watchdog with chasing away the intruder.
President Eisenhower’s federal budget for 1958 included an appropriation of $11 million for further work in the Markland Dam project. Construction work at Markland is apparently far ahead of schedule. Concrete walls for the work of the lock system are already near completion.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Haskell have received announcement of the birth of a son on Sunday to their daughter, Mrs. Del Seraphine (Kay Haskell) of Los Angeles, California. He weighed 7 pounds but his name has not yet been learned by Mr. and Mrs. Haskell.
A-2c Loren Scott, who has been in training at Chanute, Illinois, has left for New Mexico where he will be in service for four years. He spent several weeks here with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Darrell Scott.
60 YEARS AGO
Walter Tapp, 31, well known young farmer of the Tapps Ridge community, sustained serious head injuries when his car got out of control, ran off the road, hurtled over a low stone wall and crashed into a tree near the eastern edge of Markland Saturday afternoon.
A baby daughter was born at King’s Daughters’ Hospital in Madison Saturday, January 17th, to Mr. and Mrs. Giltner Hambrick of Vevay. She weighed 7 1/2 pounds and has been named Donna Lou.
Mrs. Irvin Storie of Pleasant Township has made quite a record with her flock of Barred Rock chickens. The original flock was composed of 60 pullets and a few roosters. They started laying at five months old on October 16th and at the last of December had laid 1,594 eggs. From January 1st, 1948, to and including January 16th they had laid 661 eggs.
70 YEARS AGO
Shocking tragedy came to Switzerland County Monday when an automobile containing six local women collided with another car in Indianapolis and three of them were killed. Dead are Mrs. Hattie Malcomson of near Vevay, Mrs. Clyde Heath of near Lamb and Mrs. Jack Allen of Craig Township. Injured and in an Indianapolis hospital are Mrs. Galin Armstrong of Parks Ridge, Mrs. Howard Schmunk of Pleasant and Miss Mary K. Massey, County Home Demonstration Agent. The ladies were en route to a conference at Purdue University. Their car driven by Miss Massey skidded on ice and was struck by another, turning it over.
Fire of unknown origin destroyed a brooder house at the home of Mrs. Milo Hanna near Patriot Monday. There were 125 chickens burned to death.
The following persons were elected Monday as directors of the First National Bank: E. T. Coleman, James S. Wright, Abbie A. Danglade, Julia C. Tandy, W. A. Reeves and Leslie A. Byram.
Switzerland County pupils lead the state average in tests which were recently completed in all subjects. They are 51 points above the state as a whole, according to Charles B. Noble, superintendent of schools.
80 YEARS AGO
Roy C. Johnson has bought the dry goods store of his father, O. S. Johnson, which was started over 30 years ago and took possession immediately.
A daughter was born recently to Mr. and Mrs. Chester Osborne of Bennington.
A son was born recently to Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Keith of Quercus Grove.
Fire destroyed one of Switzerland County’s oldest landmarks when the tenant house on the Ivor Newbold farm in Egypt Bottom burned Saturday. The house was occupied by Everett Roswell and family.
90 YEARS AGO
The steamer Cincinnati sank at Cincinnati last week. Her hull is said to be damaged and her owners fear that they may lose the boat entirely if the ice goes out with a rush.
Fred Binder Sr., celebrated his 73rd birthday last Sunday. “Pappie” is pretty well preserved and were it not for an occasional attack of asthma, would be “just as good as new.”
A. J. Williams who for several months past has been connected with W. F. Fisk in the furniture business, has purchased Mr. Fisk’s interest and will conduct the entire business himself.
Once again this community is in the grip of a blizzard which, if possible, is worse than the previous one. On Saturday morning the thermometer dropped to 17 degrees below zero and the wind reached a velocity of 50 miles per hour. On Monday snow began to fall again on the present 7 inches. By Tuesday it measured 16 to 24 inches deep with drifts many feet deep in some places. By Wednesday morning the temperature was 20 degrees below zero. Since December 8th, 77 inches of snow have fallen which breaks all existing records. Hardship and suffering have accompanied the blizzard. No mail has been received since Friday and travel is practically at a stand-still except by sleigh and wagon. On Monday morning William E. Poston, James and Wilbur Aldred hitched eight horses to a drag at Mount Sterling and started for Vevay to break the road. They were assisted by other men and it required five hours to make the trip. Our county correspondence printed this week was obtained by telephone.
A daughter Agnes was born Saturday night to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Herring of Scotch Settlement.
A son was born Saturday to Mr. and Mrs. Victor Thornton of the same community. On account of the snow drifts a doctor could not be obtained until Sunday.
Dr. George Copeland of Moorefield was quite ill Sunday from his many hard trips through the snow. He carried a shovel as well as his medicine bag and had to excavate his horse which fell under him several times.
The Vevay High School Senior Class sent a gift of apples and nuts to Squad 16, Bat. B., 139th F. A., of which Leon Buschmann is a member, at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. They were distributed by a Santa Claus at a Christmas party at the “Y”. The class received a long letter of appreciation from the squad.
100 YEARS AGO
Wesley McHenry has sold his Star Grocery on Main Street to Mitchel Detraz and Anthony Lock. Mr. Lock will move his family here from Connersville. The new firm will operate a huxter wagon two days each week.
Juanita, 4-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Marsh of East Enterprise, fell downstairs last week and broke her arm.
Miss Jeanette Tandy has returned to her studies at Wellesley College.
A son was born last week to Mr. and Mrs. William Leatherbury of Sugar Branch.
Messrs. Baldwin and Miles have opened a photograph gallery in the room adjoining the law office of George B. Hall over Kiesel’s Grocery.
A son was born Thursday night to Mr. and Mrs. John Pelsor.
James Hewitt, Civil War veteran, died at his home in Craig Township January 17th.
A son was born to Bernie Bovard and wife of Bascom January 14th.
Julian Lamson of Madison has been elected a director in the Commercial Club of that city.
One of the largest crowds ever seen in Vevay attended the horse sale here Saturday.
Cyrenius Brown of Moorefield has purchased 25 acres of land of William Culbertson at $100 an acre.
110 YEARS AGO
The ferryboat Eva Everett, belonging to Captain Robert Graham, sunk Saturday night during a storm. Two coalfloats belonging to Captain J. E. Williams and one belonging to Captain Alford Rous were also sunk.
Lillian, infant daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Norisez, is very ill with pneumonia.
Word has been received of the death of Elias G. Younge at his home at Canton, Mississippi. Death was the result of severe burns suffered when his home burned. Mr. Younge was born at Rising Sun and was well known here.
The Reverend J. Murray Taylor commenced his pastorate at the Christian church last Sunday.
W. H. Kelso, Jr., received the contract for lighting the street lamps at Rising Sun being the lowest bidder.
120 YEARS AGO
C. Demann, superintendent of the Union Furniture Factory, slipped and fell on the ice and broke his ankle.
Carroll Guenther, who several years ago clerked in the drug store of the late Isaac Stevens has been spending several days with Vevay friends. He is en route to Germany on a visit to his native home.
Joseph Tague and Ira Vanatter who have been in Kansas for several years have returned to Sugar Branch.
The home of Theodore Scott in Florence was destroyed by fire last week while the family was absent from home.
Licensed to marry: James A. Monroe and Priscilla W. Bowen; Henry Yates and Mary Neal.
An attempt to burn the store of Levi Orem in Bennington was made last week. Plenty of coal oil and kindling had been used but the fire was discovered and put out.
C. H. Padgett, Jack and Clifford Neal, and Miriam Ford of Bennington left last week for California.
Amie Morerod has given the railroad company land in the west part of Vevay for a depot.
John Rochat and family have moved from Lawrenceburg to Vevay.
130 YEARS AGO
About $20 was recently found in the coal pile of George W. Craig at Mount Sterling. It is supposed that the thieves who recently stole money belonging to the Baptist Festival Committee concealed it there.
There will be six months of free schools in Jefferson Township this year.
Kincaid & Brothers will soon remove their meat shop to the brick building formerly occupied by B.J. Stoops.
William Ricketts of East Enterprise suffered severe wounds in his wrist when a shotgun was accidentally discharged last week. Willie Robinson who has been employed with Bledsoe & Blymer for the past seven years has purchased the Beard store at Markland and took possession last week.
Robert Graham is building a large new steam ferryboat which will ply between Vevay and Ghent.
There is plenty of coal in Vevay. Peat in Pittsburgh sells for 12 cents.
There are 12 prisoners in the county jail.
The Odd Fellows are talking of building a new hall.
140 YEARS AGO
A Leap Year party was given at the Henry House last Tuesday night by the young ladies of Vevay in honor of the young men of the city.
Captain Jesse Stepleton who is employed as mate on a steam boat, was shot in the head and seriously wounded by the proprietor in a dispute over the measurement of coal the boat was taking on. He is recovering at his home.
150 YEARS AGO
Born January 12th, a daughter to Thomas and Evelyn McCullough of Moorefield.
The order of the Sons of Temperance will hold installation of officers Saturday night.
The river continues ice bound and the weather cold.
Two strangers attempted to put into circulation in Madison last week false bills of the Huntington County Bank. The bills were impressions of the genuine plate of the bank but the registering and countersigning were done so very awkwardly that suspicion was aroused.
A thief broke open the post office at Ghent Friday night and stole a valuable trunk containing clothing and jewelry amounting to $200. No post office funds were touched.