126. Randolph County Misc.

Saratoga Blacksmith, Tom Harshman, Jan., 1954.

  70-year-old "Tom" Harshman is Saratoga's oldest active businessman. Tom works in the shop started by his father, the late J.F. Harshman, about 75 years ago on the same lot on what was Saratoga's first frame school building. The village had built a new brick building across the street, this structure now being owned by H.A. Rickert. Tom says he was around 16 years old when he became active in his father's business, at first horse shoeing, buggy and wagon repair along with general blacksmith work. He shod his last horse around 15 years ago. Now his work consists of plow sharpening, welding and lawn mower repair. His father, who died in 1942 at the age of 87, was active in the business all but the last six months of his life. Tom, who received his education in Saratoga, is the father of one daughter, Mrs. Leah Pratt of Saratoga. Mrs. Harshman, the former Mary Mock, died seven years ago. Tom still lives in the house next to the shop, has lived there most of his 70 years.  Winchester Journal-Herald, Jan., 1954.


At the Museum- Huntsville 5" x 8" Store Photograph.

  This picture shows a store with several people standing or sitting on the board porch. Written in ink underneath:  In front of Levi Johnson's store - Huntsville. Left to right, back row- Levi Johnson, Thirsa Rosser Butler, Betty Johnson, Abe Thompson, Perce Stump, Bill Ross, Mace Stump, Tom Gaddis, Gus Butler.
Front row- Boy unknown, Frank Harvey, Ol Harvey, Tom Mills, Welcome Harvey, Waldo Ross, Fred Kepler, Hovey Harvey, John Shepherd.




Deerfield,  Lawrence "Bubby" McGriff, 1942.

  Never living any farther away from Deerfield than an eighth of a mile since migrating there with his parents in 1862, Lawrence "Bubby" Mc Griff will celebrate his ninety-second birthday anniversary today, January 26. He is the third child of a family of eight of which three are still living. Sam "Sherman" McGriff of Indianapolis, Mrs. Abigail "Pet" Mock of Eugene, Oregon and "Bubby" oldest of the three.
  Asked about his given name he explained that members of the family carried their nicknames given them by their parents throughout the years and stated few persons living in the Deerfield vicinity knew his true given name. Emerson McGriff, former Jay county judge and attorney, now deceased, was a brother.
  Mr. McGriff, born in Darke county, Ohio, with his parents moved to Salamonia in 1859 and then to near Bluff Point in Jay county before coming to Deerfield. He has lived in the same house just north of the I.O.O.F. building for more than 50 years and has lived alone since the death of his wife 19 years ago. A daughter, Mrs. Edith Toddle lives in Greenville, Ohio.
  Bubby has an excellent memory, his hearing unusually keen, his eyesight not so good and his outlook on life shows a marvelous sense of humor. He worked at the stone quarry in Ridgeville for 17 years, quit at the age of 85.
  Reminiscing he remarked about the residents of the little village he has called home so many years.
"I have seen them come and I have seen them all go. I can remember only three people living here who were here 40 years ago."
  Describing the old church and the school house he attended when first coming to Deerfield he said they were built in the "commons," back of the Methodist church now standing and were built of boards instead of logs.
  Asked by this reporter how that could be possible so many years ago with no quick or easy transportation of lumber or other facilities, he explained that the immediate district boasted a number of saw mills, grist machines and even a carding machine where wool was spun and cloth woven, standing west of the I.O.O.F. building on the Leota Towell farm. He recalled how the 40 by 60 foot church was built on four large boulders, one at each corner and remembered how in the heat of the day all the sheep in and near Deerfield would sleep under the building, filling the space completely.
  Mr. McGriff also remembers Levi Mock as being one of his teachers. The only complaint about our modern ways was about people's diction today. He said people mumbled their words and recalled how if that had happened when he was young he would have been told to "speak that again."


Lynn Memorial Library, 1942.

  The Frist Memorial Library, made possible by funds given by the late Mr. and Mrs. James P. Goodrich and a like amount by the WPA, (Works Progress Administration) is rapidly being completed and dedication of the new building will be held in the near future.
  The library was opened during the latter part of August, but as yet the entire facilities of the building have not been completed. School children and the public are rapidly makin use of the library and its 7,000 volumes are eagerly being read.
  The Goodriches donated $11,000 for the library in memory of Mrs. Goodrich's parents, who were former Lynn residents. Before her marriage, Mrs. Goodrich was Miss Cora Frist, She was a former teacher in the Lynn schools.
  Merl Chenoweth, city clerk, in holdingstated that Washington township owns the library through donations. Construction and unskilled labor on the building was done by the WPA.
  Funds for the completion of the building were exhausted before its completion and Lynn businessmen are providing money for the rest rooms which as yet are not completed.
  The building is heated by a stoker-blower type furnace and a coal bin holding 25 tons is in the basement of the building.
  Also in the basement is an assembly room which will be used by the city. It easily can seat 200 persons. A sump pump for the purpose of drainage below the basement floor is located in the furnace room also.
  It is planned to install a water fountain and facilities for a kitchenette in the assembly room in the basement.
  It required 14 months for the work on the construction of the building and in place of the three large steel bookcases which were planned in the center of the library proper, shelves have been built around the walls to hold the books. It was impossible to acquire the steel cases because of the war.
  Volunteer workers of the township built the wall cases and did most of the finishing of the floors, woodwork and windows.
  Mabel Tharp is the librarian and Miss Rosemary Jones, who is a senior in the Lynn High School, is assistant.
  The library has five adult reading tables and two childrens. The books are in the process of being catalogued by the librarians. Monthly and weekly magazine publications are available for the patrons.
  The children are permitted to check out only two books at a time, but adults may check out as many at a time as desirable.
  School classes from the second grade through the fifth grade are brought to the library by their teachers and select their books.
  Indirect lighting is used in the library, and it is planned to have two millstones at the entrance from the city sidewalk. Shrubbery will be placed at the corners of the lot and hedges will border the premises.
  Mrs. Bell Anderson, who lives in Lynn is painting a picture of an old Indian trail which ran through Greensfork township and it will hang in the library.


Farmland, Samuel McGuire, 1908.

  Word has been received at Farmland that Samuel McGuire, who removed his large saw mill from Farmland to Houston, Minnesota, has sold out his interest in the plant and would return home. There is a colony of about one hundred people from Farmland located in Minnesota and the interests of the saw mill were purchased by C.C. McProud and Sherman Wright, who will enlarge the plant. Mr. McGuire owns a factory plant at Farmland which has been leased for a saw mill, the machinery of which was brought there last spring. It is reported that Mr. McGuire has refused to renew the lease and has given notice that he wants the buildings for the installation of machinery preparatory to the starting of a stave factory.


Washington Twp., Early Cataract Surgery, 1876.

  The following strange story comes to us from Washington Township, and is vouched for by reliable parties; Some days since while chopping wood, Stephen Hodson, who has been blind in one eye for 25 years, a white skinny substance having grown over his right eye, was out chopping wood and a chip struck his eye violently, knocking him down. As he lay for some time suffering great agony, his comrades gathered around, and asked if he was much hurt. He replied, "yes, and I can tell you something you never heard of before, you've heard of men getting an eye knocked out, but I've got one knocked in."
  On examination it was found out that his eyesight had been restored, the sharp edge of the wood chip cutting the covering that had so long covered his eye. His sight is perfectly restored.   Winchester Journal, April, 1876.



Good-bye Emma Jane wherever you are.