News compiled by Ginny Leap from past issues of
Switzerland County newspapers
10 YEARS AGO
At the end of this year, Ralph Tilley will move his office from the main branch of Vevay Deposit Bank just down Ferry Street to the Vevay-Switzerland County Foundation office. It is a move of only half a block, but one t hat carries over 42 years of banking service to the Switzerland County community. Ralph Tilley will retire from Vevay Deposit Bank effective December 31st. He stepped down as president on October 31st, and is currently working to smooth the transition with new president Karen Miller.
The highest honor of Scottish Rite Freemasonry was conferred on Don Allen of Vevay recently. Don Allen is retired as a conservation technician for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and is a member and past master of Switzerland Lodge #122 F&AM. He received his 33rd degree in s special ceremony in September in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was one of 148 Masons who earned the honor and were recognized at the Grand Rapids meeting. In the Midwest alone there are currently 460,000 Masons.
With the opening of the tobacco markets less than two weeks away, Switzerland County farmers are readying their crop for the trip to the warehouse for what is expected to be a record harvest. This year’s basic quota set by the federal government is 3,748,574 pounds, a raise of 11 percent over 1996.
15 YEARS AGO
Bonita Kay Stephenson and Mark John Petersen have announced their engagement.
Robert and Ella Grace (Stow) Woodfill will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary on Sunday, November 22nd, at the Tree House Restaurant on U.S. 50 near Aurora.
Airman Dusty Simpson has graduated from Air Force basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas. He is the son of Deborah L. Simpson of Vevay and Mike L. Simpson of Madison.
20 YEARS AGO
David Leon “Buck” White of Vevay brought home a gold medal from the Special Olympics competition November 7th. The games were held at Eastern Lanes in Clarksville and included competitors from all over southeastern Indiana. Jane Schirmer of Tapps Ridge served as coach for the Switzerland County team this year.
Jim Hill, a senior at Switzerland County High School, has been awarded a scholarship at Franklin College, Franklin, Indiana. He plans to study business and journalism. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Hill, Vevay.
30 YEARS AGO
Burley tobacco is moving to market in the seventh year since growers adopted poundage instead of acreage as the basic measure of crop control. This year’s crop is the largest since 1963. It is the second largest under poundage controls, though considerably under last year’s 654 million pounds brought to market.
Mr. and Mrs. Jack Sumner of Loogootee, Indiana, announce the engagement and approaching marriage of their daughter, Sandra Jean, to Paul Eugene Hewitt, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul D. Hewitt, route 2, Shoals, Indiana. Paul is employed as a teacher and eighth grade basketball coach at Switzerland County Junior-Senior High School.
Mr. and Mrs. Harris Stegemiller, Jr., of Rising Sun, announce the engagement of their daughter, Sharon, to Danny Flood, son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Flood of Vevay.
Private Timothy R. Works, son of Ann Works of Vevay and Wilbur R. Works of Madison, was recently assigned as an infantryman with the 82nd Airborne Division of Fort Bragg, North Carolina.
40 YEARS AGO
Seaman Recruit Terry L. Ellis, USN, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter J. Ellis of route 1, Patriot, has been graduated from nine weeks of Navy basic training at Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, Illinois.
Rinda Kinman reigned as Patriot High School
s 1967-68 basketball queen and was surrounded by her court, Mona Hutton, Janet Oak and Nancy Mayo. The queen was crowned at Vevay gym Friday night as the Trojans lost an 82-33 decision to Whitewater.
U.S. Army Sergeant Carroll E. Furnish, 24, son of Mrs. Leola S. Furnish of route 3, Vevay, played on the softball team which took top honors in the 7th Army Support Command softball championship tournament in Karlsruhe, Germany.
U.S. Marine Pfc. Roy F. Downing, Jr., of route 1, Florence, is serving with D. Company, 26th Marine Regiment, a unit of the Third Marine Division at Khe Sanh, Vietnam.
Mr. and Mrs. Everett Scudder of near Moorefield, will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary November 28th.
50 YEARS AGO
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Birkemeier of Poland, Indiana, formerly of Vevay, announce the engagement of their daughter, Juanita, to Robert E. Irvin, son of Elbert Irvin of Greencastle, Indiana.
Paul D. Hankins, proprietor of the Vevay Super Shell service station, has been appointed manager of the new Gulf Oil station on West Main Street in Vevay which was slated to open Thursday,
A son was born Tuesday, November 12th, at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati to Mr. and Mrs. Robert Coates. He weighed 9 pounds, 3 ounces and has been named Robert Dale.
A son was born November 11th to Mr. and Mrs. Richard Ballard at Community Hospital in Indianapolis. The young man weighed 7 pounds and has been named Jeffrey Ross.
60 YEARS AGO
Robert, the 11-year-old son of Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Pohlkotte of Patriot was seriously injured at his home there Saturday evening while playing with a .22 caliber rifle cartridge.
Switzerland County relatives and friends have received word of the death of Mrs. Miranda Neal, widow of the late John W., Neal, formerly of near Moorefield, who passed away in Fresno, California October 12th.
The marriage of Juanita Marie Harvey and William Lewis Barnes was solemnized at the Methodist parsonage Tuesday, October 28th, by Reverend Potts.
Mr. and Mrs. R. N. Fancher last week sold their 13-room home n Main Street to Mrs. Ida Buchanan of Vevay.
Miss Dora Grace Ricketts, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ricketts, former residents of Vevay, and Lester Coleman Lee, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dan Chambers, all of Madison, were united in marriage Sunday afternoon, November 2nd, at First Baptist Church in Madison.
A baby girl was born October 22nd to Mr. and Mrs. Frederick L. Thiebaud of Brownwood, Texas. She has been named Patricia Ann. Mr. Thiebaud is a former resident of Vevay.
70 YEARS AGO
William H. McClellan, 82, a prominent farmer of Markland, passed away at his home there Wednesday, November 3rd, after an illness of about 13 weeks.
William Demann, 73, former resident of Vevay, passed away in a hospital in Dayton, Ohio, Sunday evening, having suffered a stroke of paralysis earlier in the day from which he never regained consciousness.
Mrs. Zell Bear, wife of Dr. L. H. Bear of Vevay, died Tuesday at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, where she had been a patient for many weeks.
Perry Dickason, son of Vevay’s finest old gentlemen, quietly celebrated his 87th birthday Tuesday, November 9th.
Miss Geneva Netherland and Robert Breeck were united in marriage Saturday evening by Reverend Godty, pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Lawrenceburg.
The home of Mrs. Lula Graham Hickey in Ghent was almost entirely destroyed by fire late Wednesday afternoon when a coal oil stove exploded.
Relatives have been notified of the death of Jesse P. Knox which occurred in a hospital in Los Angeles, California, Saturday, November 6th.
Ira Turner, aged 82, passed away at his home about five miles above Ghent, Kentucky, Monday morning following an illness of several weeks.
Richard M. Bratten of Columbus, Ohio, and Mildred Kuhlman of Cincinnati, Ohio, were united in marriage here November 6th by Reverend Leland S. Courtney. Reverend Courtney also officiated at the marriage of Miss Bertha Doxier of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Paul Fugett of Louisville, Kentucky, November 6th.
80 YEARS AGO
Miss Uther M. McCreary and William T. Davis, both of near Vevay, were married in Carrollton last week.
Miss Mildred Hyatt, 17, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Hyatt of Versailles and niece of Mrs. F. E. Hammel and W. C. Curran of Vevay, died at King’s Daughters’ Hospital at Madison last Thursday evening following an operation for appendicitis.
Miss Aldine Brandon and Carmine Richards, both of near Bennington, were married in Vevay Saturday by Reverend F. E. Hammel.
Terry Jennings of Vevay, fighting under the name of Terry O’Leary, met Kid Hebe of Ohio at Ft. Thomas, Kentucky, last Thursday night in a four round preliminary.
Dr. R. M. Copeland of Vevay and his brother, Dr. George Copeland, of Versailles, have formed a partnership and will open a new office on the first floor of the First National Bank Building.
90 YEARS AGO
Mrs. Louana Hammel, aged 70 years, died at the home of her brother-in-law, Cavalio Adams, near Madison Saturday evening.
An accident that might have proved fatal occurred last week when Charles Rayls, small son of Scott Rayls, shot himself while hunting.
Mitchell Detraz received word the first of the week of the death of his mother, Mrs. Eleanor Detraz, at the home of her youngest daughter, Mrs. C. C. Samples, at Riverside, California, Friday, November 2nd.
Mrs. Sarah Foutty, formerly a resident of Vevay, died at her home in Connersville last Thursday morning after an illness of two years duration.
Several hogs in the vicinity of Markland have died within the past few days from a disease closely resembling cholera.
The relatives of Mrs. Flora Morrison will hold a family reunion at the old homestead now the residence of Mr. and Mrs. John Bakes near Center Square in honor of her 90th birthday Monday, November 12th.
100 YEARS AGO
Captain Jesse J. Stepleton, a veteran of the Mexican War, died at a hospital in Cincinnati Monday. The body was brought here for burial.
Edward Netherland, formerly a resident of Lamb, but lately of California, was killed October 23rd in a railroad wreck near Greenville, Kentucky, while en route home to visit relatives.
Andrew Konkle of Vevay and Miss Lula Pavy of Brooksburg were married November 7th in Madison, Reverend R. W. Fish of the Grace M. E. Church officiating.
Mrs. Laurie Brown fell last week and tore loose the tendons in her left limb.
A son was born November 7th to William Bradford and wife of Allensville.
Jesse, small son of Jesse Gregory, of Patriot, fell from a hay press Saturday, breaking his left leg above the knee. He is improving nicely.
Lige Brindley has purchased a half interest in R. L. Slate’s blacksmith shop and the firm name is now Slate & Brindley.
120 YEARS AGO
Samuel Bowen, struck on the head with a stone or brick during a dance in Craig Township on the night of October 19th, died Saturday morning.
Last Tuesday morning the body of Amie Bennett, 13-year-old son of Alfred Bennett, was found in the woods on the farm of Justi Thiebaud in Craig Township. The boy had gone hunting alone and it is supposed the boy accidentally shot himself.
The store of A. B. Vannatter at Sugar Branch was entered by burglars Thursday night and about $40 of merchandise stolen.
Thomas, 18-year-old son of Hiram Ogle and wife died November 15th at his parents’ home near Mount Sterling.
W. E. Hunter of Cross Plains and Mrs. Dellia Morrison of Sugar Branch was married November 10th at the residence of Reverend J. J. Goodner.
130 YEARS AGO
The enterprising firm of U. P. Schenck & Son now light their mammoth business house with gas which is manufactured on the premises. Twenty-seven burners are used.
Mrs. William Rous and children took passage on the Charles Morgan for Lake Providence, Louisiana where her husband is now engaged in business.
Charles Hastie, aged 62 years, died November 11th at his home in York Township.
Z. Arrasmith and Mrs. Hughes of Patriot were married November 13th.
That sterling, reliable newspaper, The Madison Courier, is arrayed in a “new dress” presenting a clear, neat and handsome appearance.
E. Lamkin and L. Yarnell have opened up a butcher shop in Patriot.
140 YEARS AGO
Married on the 5th near East Enterprise by Reverend A. S. Reid, Reverend Levi Booth and Miss Mary Elizabeth Godden.
Vevay markets: wheat $2.50 per bushel; rye $1.10; potatoes, 90 cents per bushel; chickens, $2 to $3 dozen; eggs, 20 cents dozen; butter, 30 cents pound; hay $12 to $13 per ton.
Professor Elliot of Ghent will deliver a temperance lecture here Friday night.
Married November 12th by Reverend O. P. Dyer, James Lambertson and Mrs. S. E. Smith.
Circuit Court is in session at this place with Judge Berkshire presiding.
150 YEARS AGO
Married on the 10th, by Dr. J. W. Murphy at the residence of the bride’s father, Henry C. Walden and Miss Amanda A. McHenry.
Died on the 30th of last month at the home of her brother, Dr. Levi Bartlett in Kingston, New Hampshire, Mrs. L.J.B. Case, wife of Eliphalet Case, of Patriot.
Died at Center Square on the 22nd, Savannah, aged 11 months, a daughter of Elijah Hendrickson.
Mrs. L. A. Lawrence will open a class in painting and fancy leather work here this week.