261. Modoc Baby Killed in Accident (1931)

Blog Post Number 261. Modoc Baby Killed in Accident (1931)

September 19, 1931

Betty Bales, ten-month-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Bales, residing east of Modoc, was instantly killed Sunday morning when she fell out of an automobile driven by her father. 

The accident occurred in front of  the Carlos church, when Mr. Bales applied the brakes to avoid a collision with an other automobile. When he applied the brakes, the door flew open and the baby and her sister, Virginia, fell out. The back wheel passed over the baby's chest, causing death instantly. The older girl suffered light bruises. 

Besides the parents and the sister, she is survived by one brother, Billy. 

Funeral services were held at  the Union Chapel church Tuesday afternoon at two o'clock. Burial was made at Liberty. 

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Notes from Thursa, a RCHS Volunteer: 

Daughter of Ralph "Spider" and Clara (Clark) Bales. 

Baby Betty was noted to be the third child of her parents, born at 5 pm on Saturday, September 30, 1930 according to her birth certificate. 

Her death certificate noted her as a white female, aged 9 months 16 days old at her death. She died Sunday, July 12, 1931 and cause of death crushing of right chest ribs puncturing right lung. She was buried at New Liberty Cemetery on Tuesday, July 14, 1931 with arrangements by Clark Thomas, Lynn, Indiana. 

At the time of her death, her parents were noted to have lived three miles east of Modoc, Indiana. 

Based on reviews of regional newspaper articles also covering the tragic story, it was noted it occurred in the morning. She and her sister were in the back seat and when she fell out, the back wheel ran over her. Betty had been setting on her sister's lap for the ride. 

Mr. Bales lived to be 76 years old and was noted as a farmer, retired truck driver and livestock dealer. He had been born in Randolph County, Indiana and is buried in the Union Chapel Methodist Cemetery near Carlos, Randolph County, Indiana. 

Mrs. Bales lived to be 86 years old having been born in Beloit, Mitchell County, Kansas. She is buried beside her husband in the Union Chapel Methodist Cemetery near Carlos, Randolph County, Indiana. Her obituary noted she was a native of Ohio but spent most of her life in the Carlos area. She was noted to be a housewife. 

Betty is laid to rest just a few headstones south of her paternal grandparents Ozro and Estella Bales. 

In the 1930 United States Federal Census:

Ralph Bales was a white male born in 1902 in Indiana who rented his home noted to be on a farm, had no radio set, was married when he was 17 years old, was able to read and write, a farmer and his parents were both born in Indiana. 

Clara Bales was a white female born about 1900 in Indiana married to Ralph Bales when she was 19 years old.

Billie Bales was their on who was 10 years old and Virginia Bales their daughter was 6 years old with both noted at attending school. 

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Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

__________________

Want to learn more?

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   Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.

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260. Boy Smothered in 1890 and Sightseeing near Windsor

 Blog Post Number 260. Boy Smothered

August 1870

A boy by the name of Schaffer, aged about eight years, was smothered in a wheat bin at Selma, on Saturday last. 

It seems he was sent up stairs into the bin to remove the slide to permit the wheat to pass out, and after having done so the wheat sinking very suddenly, drew him down and completely buried him, his body filling up the shoot, the wheat ceased running and he was left to a horrible death. 

It was fifteen minutes before any thing was discovered to be wrong, and when search was made and the body found, it was nothing but a blackened corpse. 

He is the son of Mr. Shaffer whom it will be remembered was knocked from the cars and killed at the bridge across White river, some years ago. 

Notes from Thursa, a RCHS Volunteer:  This is an article from neighboring Selma community and it's a reminder that Grain Bin Safety awareness is very near.  Many safety measures are in place and take them seriously. 

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Back Road Drive history that you should pause to reflect on as you pass.

By Thursa, RCHS Volunteer

Windsor's Round Barn, Mound and Hoosier Poet

Windsor Road Round Barn near Parker City, Indiana, built c 1890-1910

Located on private property. Do NOT trespass. Found along Windsor Road just east of Windsor in rural Randolph County, Indiana. 

Fading sign for Adena Culture Windsor Mound. Just past the tree line is where it is located near the bank of the White River. There is no parking or pull over spot. 

Windsor is the Hoosier Poet James Whitcomb Riley's family roots. His grandparents are buried in unmarked graves south of the area where the Riley Farm was located. 

________________

Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

__________________

Want to learn more?

Visit The Museum.

   Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.

Facebook Page: The Randolph County Historical Society Museum and Shop. 

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259. Randolph County Girl Dies From Neglect.

Blog Post Number 259.  Randolph County Girl Dies From Neglect. 

Winchester Journal, February 15, 1871.

      A few months ago, a colored woman, whose name we have been unable to learn but resides near the Ohio line, placed her little daughter, about eight or nine years old with the family of John Thomas, also colored who lives in the north part of Winchester. 

     The mother who is a poor woman and compelled to labor hard for her living was unable, without great inconvenience, to see her child personally, having confidence in those to whom she had confided the care of her child, thought she was doing well. 

     But the arrival of a wagon before her door containing the dead body of her daughter, bruised and disfigured by the cruel beatings it had received, dispelled the poor mother's delusion. When taken from the wagon, the body was yet warm showing conclusively that the child had died while being taken home.

     An examination developed the fact that her toes and heels were entirely frozen off and that her knees were calloused indicating that her feet had been frozen for some time and that she had been compelled to go about on her knees. Her back, arms and legs were terribly bruised and swollen with the marks of cruel beatings. 

     The guilty parties had doubtless become alarmed at the probable result of their unhuman conduct and attempted to get the child to it's mother before she died, that they might escape, or at least mitigate their punishment. 

Some of the quilts on display in the upper level in the Randolph County Historical Museum. 

     As if not yet satisfied with their cruelty, they threw her into an old road wagon on a thin layer of straw with nothing but a dirty, ragged old quilt to protect her and started to her mothers, but as stated above, she died on the way. 

     A warrant for the arrest of Thomas and his wife was issued and a joint preliminary examination was held before Levi S. Grave, Esq. of Wayne Township, who held them to bond in the sum of $1,000, in default of which they were committed to the jail in Winchester.

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Notes from Thursa, a RCHS Volunteer. 

What was the weather like when this happened? 

    The US Weather Bureau was new and just five days prior started official regional records. Local forecasts were not recorded. Regional records noted in the Midwest that mid-February 1871 was a 'highly volatile' winter. There were bitterly cold temperatures and heavy snowstorms. During that week, substantial snow accumulations were recorded in the region along with sub-freezing and hazardous conditions. 

The bond was $1,000, how much is that in 2026? 

     In 1871 their bond was noted as $1,000.  In 2026, the equivalent purchasing power is about $27,370. 

What is the rest of the story? 

    Mick did search when he came across this article and was not able to find any further newspaper stories about it. 

     RCHS Volunteers do not have the outcome of the story discovered at this time.  If you would like to assist in researching, stop in at RCHS on Thursday afternoons to discuss how you can help. 

Who was this Thomas family?

     In the 1870 Census for Randolph County, Indiana, there are five John Thomas files noted.

John Thomas born 1840 Missouri noted in Winchester census file. Thirty years old, white male, occupation is a pump maker, married to Eliza Thomas (27 years old), no other occupants noted. 

John Q. Thomas born 1851 Indiana noted in West River census file. Nineteen years old, white male, attended school, inferred son of James T. and Lucy Ann Thomas, five other people listed on the record. 

John J. Thomas born 1857 in Indiana noted in Greensfork census file. Thirteen years old, white male, attended school, inferred son of Joshua C. and Mary B. Thomas, six other people listed on the record. 

John Thomas born 1836 in Ohio noted in Washington census file. Thrity-two year old white male, occupation is "keeps grocery", other person on file is 7 year old child. 

John Thomas born 1831 in Kentucky in White River census file.  Thirty-nine year old black male, post office Winchester, occupation is 'common laborer'. Inferred spouse: Catherin Thomas age 27. Inferred children: Iowa Thomas age 8, Prestin Thomas age 5, Harrie Thomas age 3 and Lillie Thomas no age noted. 

________________

Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

__________________

Want to learn more?

Visit The Museum.

   Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.

Facebook Page: The Randolph County Historical Society Museum and Shop. 

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258. Randolph County, Ind. News: 4 Year Old Crushed By Ties.

Coroner's Report To The Clerk of The Randolph County Circuit Court, Winchester, Indiana.

Cause: Death of Jan Way Diggs, September 25, 1946.

Cause of Death: Asphyxiation caused when two railroad ties rolled down on his head and chest while he was playing on a pile of ties.

Place of Death: At his home about one mile south west of Winchester.

Description of Person: A white male of the age of 4 years; light brown hair; brown eyes; approximate weight, 40 lbs. 

Statement of Witness: I, Lloyd Diggs, being duly sworn, this 25th day of September, 1946, upon my oath depose and say that I live about a mile from the city limits of Winchester, southwest of town. At about 4:00 P.M. on Sept. 25, 1946 we got together and found Jan was missing. We started to looking for him all over the farm - woods and gravel pit. At about 6:00 P.M. my wife found Jan behind the dairy barn under two railroad ties - about two ties high, the weight of the ties had him bent backwards. One tie was across his face and one across his chest. He was about the middle of the ties. She screamed and Forrest Dwiggins who had just arrived came up to the pile of ties and he lifted the ties off the boy. He seemed to be warm and his legs and arms and face were cold. I met my wife and Forrest Dwiggins carrying him to the house.

 I had last seen Jan about 12:50 P.M. when I went to town. I returned about 1:30 or 2:00 P.M. but didn't see him. My wife didn't see him after noon either. My hired hand didn't see him either, after noon and he helped look for him.

Verdict: Accidental death

Signed: Lowell W. Painter, Coroner 

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The Angels Took "Mudder" Away.

Winchester Journal, 1915.

Few youngsters have created more interest in a trip across the country than has a little four-year- old Floyd Davis, who arrived Monday morning at the house of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Macon, who reside eight miles south of Winchester on the Lynn Pike. He left Missoula, Montana, Friday, August 27. He arrived in Chicago, Sunday, August 30, leaving there in the evening and reached Ridgeville, Indiana at three o'clock Monday morning where he was met by his grandfather, Andrew Macon and Dell Hinshaw. In a short while he was at the Macon home where he is being tenderly cared for and attracting a great deal of attention from the neighbors.

 The boy's mother, whose maiden name was Ethel Macon, died last March at the family home in Missoula. The boy's father is John M. Davis, son of George Davis, of near Bloomingsport in Randolph county. They located in Montana soon after their marriage. The father is left alone and it was thought best to send Floyd to the home of his grandparents where he can be better cared for.

 The little fellow created quite a stir in Chicago. He was given every attention and the Chicago Herald published a picture of him holding his grip in one hand and a doll baby in the other. The following write-up accompanied the picture:

 As a long distance traveler, "Tiny Floyd" Davis is in a class by himself. "Tiny Floyd"-He is only four years old-Stopped over in Chicago yesterday long enough to enjoy a spin over the boulevard and pose for a Herald photographer. He is en route from Missoula, Montana to the home of his grandparents in Lynn, Indiana.

 He had intended to make the trip with his mother, but he explained, "Angels took Mudder away," and he was compelled to make the long journey alone.

 The child traveler arrived at Union Station on the "Olympian" of the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul   Railroad.

 He was entertained in royal fashion by passengers en route. He displayed a pocketful of coins and a rag doll when he stepped from the train. Women passengers insisted upon showering him with all sorts of gifts.

 Several asked permission of John Gilbert, passenger Agent at the Union Station, to take the boy home with them, but their requests were denied. Instead "Tiny Floyd" went motoring in the passenger agent's machine.

 "Mighty fine boy," Gilbert volunteered upon their return to the railroad station. "Wouldn't mind keeping him here for myself. He behaved like a little gentleman."

 "Tiny Floyd" rather seemed to enjoy the fuss made over him. He was especially pleased when his picture was "tooken." He left at night for Ridgeville, Indiana over the Pennsylvania Road. His grandparents have arranged to meet him there.

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Rats In Winchester!

Winchester Journal, 1899.

 Serious objections are being raised to the practice indulged in by some people of throwing rats which have been killed into the streets of Winchester, there to fester and rot and raise a stench which is offensive to the nostrils of all persons passing by.

 The town Marshall is going to dedicate some time in looking into this.

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Foster's Shoe Store In Farmland, Ind.

Farmland Enterprise, March 11, 1954.

 Foster's Shoe store in Farmland this year is celebrating a half-century in business. The firm was established by C. E. Foster in 1883 in the location where the Hammer Drug store now is. At that time nearly all shoes and boots were made by hand. Employed by C. E. Foster were his brother, J. P. Foster, Frank Snyder, John Mulvaney and Jake Hammer.

 Shoes were called either pegged or sewed, according to the method used in attaching soles. Some boots were made a copper toe which extended over the uppers for longer wear.

 Present location on the southeast corner of the town square was built in 1894 and leased to C. E. Foster for a short time until he purchased the building from the owner, a Mr. Cramer of Dayton, Ohio. When a few companies began the manufacture of shoes, C. E. Foster invested $500 in stock.

 Ledgers dating back to 1883 show accounts kept for settlement once a year.

 A repair shop was in the rear of the store, in charge of Jake Hammer. About one-third of the room was destroyed by fire in 1913.

 In 1928 H. G. Foster purchased the store from his father and continued until 1949 when it passed to the third generation as Gene Foster took over from his father, Harry. In 1951 H. G. Foster died following a lingering illness.

 Shortly afterwards John W. Glover, Gene's son-in-law. joined the firm but was soon called to serve with the U.S. Marine Corps. He was released from military service on February 3 of this year and returned to the store on March 1.

________________

Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

__________________

Want to learn more?

Visit The Museum.

   Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.

Facebook Page: The Randolph County Historical Society Museum and Shop. 

Visit the website.

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257. RANDOLPH COUNTY TRIVIA.

April, 1915.  Winchester's First Outdoor Theatre.

View in 2025 of where the Airdome was located in Winchester, a parking lot on the north side of Haines store.

  The Kelly Amusement Co. will open their new airdome north of the Journal newspaper building on N. Meridian st. No expense has been spared to make this a comfortable outdoors motion picture theatre. Easy seats have been arranged for the seating of over 200 people without the least crowding. A fine new projector has been purchased and the screen is of the latest pattern. The front of the theatre building has been attractively deorated. In fact the place is in keeping with any theatre except the ceiling which is the sky. Only high grade pictures will be shown and the patronage merited will doubtless be accorded the enterprising managers. The company will continue to operate the Cozy theatre.

 Smallpox In Winchester. (1903)

Medical Exhibit in The Annex at RCHS Museum.

 Luther Shetterly, one of six other victims, died of smallpox on January 21, 1903. He was a contractor in Winchester and had built the Friends Church on E. Washington, the 3 story brick Redmen's Lodge at 115 N. Main street and the Knights of Pythias building at the corner of Washington and N. Main where the China House restaurant is located today, 2025. He was building the county infirmary, across from the 4-H grounds, when he died.

Shetterly's death certificate. 

April, 1947. Georgetown Remembered, by Mrs. Rosa Craig Worth, of Selma.

Situated one mile south of Farmland on the Winchester-Windsor pike was the village of Georgetown, platted in 1835 on land owned by George McNeece. At one time there were six dwellings there, also a tavern or hotel, a doctor's office, a general store, a blacksmith shop and a toll gate. For probably two or more decades this village had a lucrative business catering to the emigrants using this road.

  In early spring hundreds of mover's wagons with their livestock traveled this road, some caravans not stopping, others pausing long enough for some repairs at the blacksmith shop and some loaves of bread and again some would stop for a few days on account of sickness or to rest their jaded teams and foot sore cattle.

  Always on Sunday there would several emigrant wagons under the trees along White River for very few of these caravans traveled on the Sabbath day. Usually there were religious services of some kind.

  Sometimes these emigrant trains consisted of half a dozen or so wagons, then again there would be as many as twenty-five or thirty wagons, several fitted for comfortable traveling and others loaded with feed for the horses and cattle and others with farming implements, tools of all kinds, seeds, such as corn, oats, potatoes, etc. There would be coops of chickens, ducks and geese. The sheep and cattle were driven but the hogs were hauled.

  The tavern or hotel was for several years under the management of Henry Huffman. Dr. Keener was the physician, as history records it, but much of the time there were two doctors.

  The blacksmith shop was a busy place. Many times the smithy and his helpers worked all night setting tires, welding chains and shoeing horses so that the caravan could hurry on.

  At daylight there would be the smell of wood smoke, meat cooking and coffee boiling. Soon the teams would be harnessed, wagons loaded and the emigrant train would be on its way. For some reason they usually sang when they began the days journey and many times their voices would be heard long after they would be lost to sight in the morning fog along Cabin Creek.

  Many times whole families from grandparents to tiniest of grandchildren, uncles, aunts, cousins and many neighbors were going west where land was cheap and easily tended, glad to leave their small rocky farms in the eastern hills not realizing how terrible droughts, prairie fires and grass hoppers could be, but the new countries were settled with brave pioneers like these.

  As these people made good, so, soon there were great droves of cattle being driven east to market sometimes hundreds of them passing Georgetown in one day. These hoofs churning the wet roads into knee-deep mire in early spring and in dry weather great clouds of dust followed along the way.

  Many discouraged homesick people came, caravans of them, with gaunt teams of oxen or horses, going back east to their old homes, hungry for the wooded hills, the sight of old neighbors and a good cold drink from the well at home.

  When the Bee-Line railroad was put through in 1853 it was a bitter disappointment to the people of Maxville, Georgetown and Windsor that it bypassed. Each year there were fewer caravans with their outfits moving west and fewer droves of cattle, hogs and sheep being driven to eastern markets. Every year more and more traveled by rail and livestock was freighted to their destination, so at last Georgetown was no more. Probably the toll gate was the last to go and it has been gone for sixty or seventy years.

1916, Winchester Journal.   Lazy Husband Law.

The RC Courthouse, from "Tucker History" in 1882. 

  It is going to be tough going in the future for men convicted in the Randolph County Circuit Court on charges of of non-support of his wife and minor children or minor children in case of divorce, if an Indiana law which is called to attention is invoked.

  This law, passed by the General Assembly in 1916, provides that in the case of a man convicted of non-support, he may be fined in any sum not over $500. to which a sentence in the workhouse or county jail may be included. Also he may be given a sentence in the workhouse and under the Act the court can at its discretion, turn the defendant over to the Sheriff with instructions to put him at labor on the county roads.

  The law provides that the Board of Commissioners and the County Superintendent of roads shall make provisions for such labor that is to be done by the prisoner. The defendant is allowed $1 per day for each day of his work sentence, this money going toward the support of his wife and minor children or minor children in case of divorce.

________________

Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

__________________

Want to learn more?

Visit The Museum.

   Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.

Facebook Page: The Randolph County Historical Society Museum and Shop. 

Visit the website.

   Here is a link to the website:  https://rchsmuseum.org

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256. Bobbed Hair! Ladies In Our Barber Shops?, Ku Klux Klan, Infirmary Infant, Harrisville

July, 1924.  Bobbed Hair! Ladies In Our Barber Shops?

The Barber Pole at The Bootleggin' Barbershop on North Meridian Street in Winchester, IN in 2025. 

While bobbed hair is not unanimously approved and is strongly condemned by some, it is steadily growing in popularity and by the same token the coffers of the local barbers are being filled as never before, for bobbed hair has brought them a lot of additional business, with the result that the male of the species must wait longer for his barbering and incidentally must be more careful of his utterances in barber shops since bobbed hair became a fad or whatever it is.

  No matter when one enters a local barber shop he is almost sure to find one or more girls or women waiting to be bobbed or are being bobbed, but, of course the hair bobbing business is slackest in the forenoon. Nor do the barber shops get all of the bobbing, for it is said that bobbing is also done by beauty doctors and hair dressers in the city. All of which goes to prove as before stated, that hair bobbing has grown mighty popular and has come to stay for a considerable time at least.

  But "it's an ill wind that blows nobody good," and if bobbed hair can be classed as an ill wind it has it's good points. For instance, it has improved the barber shop morals a lot with the result that no longer are the off color stories or the occasional profanity heard in the shops, when women or girls are present, which were so noticeable, not to say disgusting and ill bred before the days of the bobbed heads.

June, 1916. Infirmary infant placed in Orphans Home  

Reference materials for The Poor Farm (The Infirmary, The County Home) at RCHS. 

Judge Theodore Shockney has issued orders making Anice Lucinda Wood, daughter of Miss Lulu Wood, seventeen years old, now an inmate of the county poor farm, a ward of Randolph County, and the infant will be placed in the James Moorman Orphans Home. The child was born May 18, 1916.

  John Shultz, stepfather of the young mother stands charged with incest in the Circuit Court as the alleged father of the child.

March, 1916.  Baker girl in Harrisville is incorrigible 

Letha Baker, a girl about 20 years old, whose home is in Harrisville, was arrested and locked up in Union City by officer Lew Powers on an order from Judge Shockney. The girl is an incorrigible and has been running wild. It is also thought that she is not quite right mentally.

  Last summer she was found staying in an old barn near Arthur's Corner, where she received all kinds of company. She was taken to Winchester and locked up in jail at that time. She ran away from the county infirmary, after which she was taken to Indianapolis and confined in an institution for incorrigibles. She escaped from this place and afterwards stayed in a number of towns. 

  She came to Union City and put up at the Sizemore Hotel but after spending one night there, Mr. Sizemore ordered her to leave. Since that time she has been running the streets.

  The case is an unfortunate one, and the girl is to be pitied as she doesn't seem to have any will power to control her actions. She was taken to Winchester by officer Powers and she will be placed in the custody of the Sheriff until the court can find time to take up her case.

  Her father was killed by a Big Four train in the local yards about 3 years ago and her mother married Otis Coats, the Harrisville Postmaster and merchant.

September, 1922.   Ku Klux Klan Visits Church.   

Klu Lkux Klan reference materials at RCHS Library. 

Last Sunday evening twelve robed men visited the Methodist Episcopal Church in Union City, Indiana. They marched to the alter in single file where they knelt in silent prayer, after which they presented Rev. E. N. Dunbar with an envelope containing a sum of money. They then left the church, entered their automobiles and made their departure.

  The following is the note tendered : "Rev. E. N. Dunbar, Pastor of the M. E. Church, Dear Sir  In appreciation of the good work you are doing, the Union City and Winchester Provisional Klans wish to tender you this donation, to be used for the good of the cause. The Knights of the Ku Klux Klan wish the world to know that they stand strictly behind the Christian Protestant religion, with malice toward none and good will toward all."

________________

Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

__________________

Want to learn more?

Visit The Museum.

   Hours vary with volunteer availability. Check the website or Facebook for current open to the public hours or call/message/email to arrange an appointment.

Facebook Page: The Randolph County Historical Society Museum and Shop. 

Visit the website.

   Here is a link to the website:  https://rchsmuseum.org

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255. Randolph County News: 15 year old drowns, Farmland stills, Karns Memories

Arba area boy Drowns. July 31, 1930. 

Headstone for Elbert Alexander, buried at Spartanburg Cemetery. 

A six days search for the body of Elbert Alexander, 15 year old son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Alexander of near Arba, who had been missing since Sunday, July 20, ended Saturday afternoon, when his body was fished out of the gravel pit west of Lynn.

  Since the boy had been missed, continuous efforts had been made and every contrivance possible had been used to recover the body, but to no avail. On Saturday morning, Clifford Cooper, whose home is in Florida, but was formerly of Lynn and at this time was visiting in Lynn, went to the pits, taking with him a fishing line to which three large hooks had been attached for the purpose of casting for the body of the missing boy. His casting was at random for he had no information from anyone as to where to cast the line. He had been casting the line for about five hours when O. A. Study appeared on the scene and through information he had gained from the boy's sister, directed Mr. Cooper where to cast his line. The sister of the boy pointed out the place where she saw her brother about ten minutes before his disappearance. They with a number of others were wading in shallow water and it is thought the boy stepped off in a deep hole made by the dipping of gravel, while the others were returning to the bank. It was upon their return to the bank that he was missed and the search begun.

The body was found at the exact place Mr. Study directed which was about fifty feet deep, west of the spring board and one hundred feet south, practically the middle of the pit. The line was cast by Mr. Cooper and the body was pulled to shore by Mr. Study about ten minutes after the exact spot was designated. The body was in good state of preservation It was recovered at 4:20 Saturday afternoon, after plans had been made to start Monday with the draining of the pit. One large pump had been placed at the pit, while two more were to be installed.  

Death Certificate of Elbert Alexander. 

Farmland Stills. Dec. 21, 1921.

  Federal prohibition officer, W. A. Ray, assisted by Deputy Sheriff Eldon Reichard, swooped down onto a real still two miles west of Farmland, on the Interurban line, last Friday. They found two stills in the basement at the house of Edward Burr, one a fifty gallon and the other a twenty gallon which, from all appearances had been in full operation, not at the time of the raid, however, as no one was at home but the stills were taken and arrest of the parties was to follow. The officers found a gallon and a half of liquor in a jug hidden behind the place and in the woodhouse they found a wooden churn which contained more of the "white mule." This still business may be a profitable investment for a time, but in the wind-up it may prove to be rather an expensive proposition to the parties who engage therein. Burr was arraigned in court Monday. He was fined, cost and all, $507.90 and sent to the penal farm for ninety days.  

Old Time Sayings by Harry Karns of New Dayton, Randolph County. Feb. 26, 1941.

  When there is a circular around noon on a Sunday, tells there is a storm coming at night. Count the number of stars in the circular and tells how many days of storm there will be.

  Sun dogs in the evening or morning also tells there is a storm coming, and also when the cat washes its face and rubs its paws over its ears. When it hollows in the day you must look out as there will be hurricane or blizzard the next day. When the hogs jump and play and you see cattle lying in piles, or when you see bunches of birds on the ground when it sounds loud and you can hear your echo or trains, when your feet are hot and burning, when creeks begin to run even if dry, when roosters crow before midnight, some wells get riled and muddy before a storm, your old bones ache, your head itches, when leaves and corn blades curl-all this tells of snow or rain.

  When you can't get a house warm no matter how hot a fire, tells that its going to get warm outside. Also when fire burns you, when trees and houses pop and crack, its a sign of warmer weather. When fire pops and snaps, that's a sign of snow or rain.

  When you see lots of women out in their gay colors, talking and having a good time, that's a sure sign of rain. When chickens stay out in the rain with their tails down, that's a sign it will keep raining but if they run for shelter its a sign it will soon be over.

  When the bull rings his tail and puts it over his back and snorts and paws and gets in a dead run, look out-there is mischief in the air.

Moon signs-  Clapboard roofs, they should always be put on in dark of the moon, also shingles to keep them from turning up. Fence posts also should be set in dark of the moon so they can't work up. Lay down a board on grass in light of the moon, it will turn up and grass will grow up from under it. Lay it down in dark of the moon it kills grass and stays tight to the ground.

  All things that grow above ground should be planted in light of the moon that bears its fruit, such as corn, oats, wheat, beans etc. Things as potatoes, onions, beets, turnips should be planted in dark of the moon.

  Butcher a hog in light of the moon, it fries up to grease, but butcher in a dark moon, it fries whole and tender.

  When iron sweats and your hair is curly, also a sign of thawing or rain.

  An old timer said he planted all his crops in the ground and that all crops failed in dry weather, of course, he is right in a way, for nothing will grow in dry weather.  

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Would you like a book to learn more about local history? 

Randolph County, Indiana 1818-1990

Commonly referred to as "The Red History Book"

Compiled by the Randolph County Historical Society, 1991, Second reprint 2003.

To obtain your own copy of "The Red History Book" stop in at The RCHS Museum Shop. 

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