186. Randolph County And The Spanish Influenza Epidemic Of 1918-1919. Part 1.

Sept. 4, 1918.   A strange epidemic has made its appearance in Union City, at least so far as our doctors have been unable to classify it and place it under the heading of any of the well known plagues. So it has been called the "War Colic." The theory has been advanced that the germs float in the air and they come direct from the WW I battlefields of Europe in the poisonous gases that have been thrown out in such vast quantities as to at last permeate the atmosphere of the entire world.
  There are now over one hundred cases in the Union City area. The victims get deathly sick and the contents of their stomachs turn green. There is a high fever for a day or two and the attack lasts from three to ten days, leaving the patients very weak. So far there have been no deaths.
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Oct., 1918.   At last that dreaded of all disease, Spanish influenza, that has been sweeping over the country and is causing the death of hundreds of our soldiers and sailors, has got a hold on a Randolph County boy at the Great Lakes Training camp, where there were recorded 77 deaths yesterday. He is Frances FRAZIER, son of Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Frazier who live south of Harrisville. A telegram from the Naval Station stated that their son had been admitted to the Naval Hospital with grippe pneumonia. Condition serious, is quarantined. H.E. ODELL.
  In his last letter home he told his mother that he was feeling well outside of a little cold and that he was taking a shot in the nose every day to keep from getting that 'Spanish Grippe, so you need not worry about me getting it for the dope they are giving me will keep it away. There were 35 died here last night but they had it and never took care of themselves.
  At 11 a.m. the next day the Fraziers received another telegram from the Naval Station with the following message; Mrs. Cora Frazier,  Frances Leroy Frazier died at 3:15 a.m. today. Body may be buried here at government expense, or, if you request, body sent home all expenses, preparation and transportation paid by government. Wire immediately what shall be done.  H.E. ODELL. Both telegram messages were telephoned to the Fraziers from the telegraph office in Union City.
  They arranged with undertaker Fraze to have the body brought home.
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Oct., 1918.  First Death In Jackson Township.   So far as is known, the first victim in this section of the present epidemic of Spanish influenza, so -called, though all our doctors declare that it is nothing more than our old enemy la-grippe, was Ellen, six year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer MEEHAN, who live on what was until recently their farm, located about one-half mile north of New Lisbon. The little girl went to school at the Jackson school building one week ago last Friday as usual and shortly after arriving home in the evening she became sick. Her ailment was pronounced grip and she had all the symptoms that prevail according to reports in so-called Spanish influenza. She became steadily worse and in spite of all that could be done, she died last night. Both the parents and three remaining children also took the same disease, but all but Mrs. Meehan are recovering. The mother is reported a very sick woman.
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Oct, 1918.   Randolph County soldiers were sent to several Army camps during WW I and Camp Sherman at Chillicothe was one. This short piece shows how hard the camps were hit by the flu: 143 deaths from the Spanish influenza-pneumonia epidemic occurred at Camp Sherman between noon Oct. 7 and 2 p.m. Oct. 9, bringing the total deaths since the epidemic took hold a week ago to 227.
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Oct., 1918.   Vaccination with a recently discovered serum, which from tests just completed at several army camps, has been found to be an almost positive preventative of contraction of pneumonia, will be used to combat the epidemic of Spanish influenza, which, in one week, had made it's appearance in every state and in all but a few army camps causing many deaths.
  Use of the vaccine will be widely extended, Congress having appropriated a million dollars to be used by the public health service in fighting Spanish influenza.  (This vaccine proved to be useless.)
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Oct. 1918.   At a special meeting of the Randolph County Board of Education, held in office of the County Superintendent, it was decided to have a medical inspection of the school children of Randolph County. A medical inspector will be appointed for each school corporation. The duties of the Inspector are as follows:
  School physicians shall make prompt examination and diagnosis of all children referred to them and such further examination of teachers, janitors and school buildings as in their opinion the protection of the health of the pupils and teachers may require. Whenever a school child is foundto be ill or suffering from any physical defect, the school physician shall promptly send them home with a note to parents or guardians, briefly setting forth the discovered facts and advising that the family physician be consulted. If the parents or guardians are so poor as to be unable to give the relief that is necessary, then the school trustees and township trustees, as the case may be, shall provide the necessary relief. Provided, that in cities where public dispensaries exist, the relief shall be given by said dispensaries. School physicians shall keep accurate card-index records of all examinations and said records that may be uniform throughout the state shall be according to the form prescribed by the state, authorized in this act and the method and manner of reports shall be according to said rules.
  It will be seen from the above that this was all done in the interest of the child. This is of special importance in view of the probable epidemic of influenza in the country. It is to be hoped and expected that each school patron of the county will cooperate with the school officials and Medical Inspector in the conservation of the health and protection of the children of the county. Each parent should study carefully the report and comply with the recommendations given.
DR. GRANVILLE REYNARD, Secy. County Board of Health, LEE L. DRIVER, Supt. of Randolph County Schools.
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Oct., 1918. State Government Closes All Public Places.   While it was generally rumored over the city that the Community Fair would not be held this year on account of the spread of the Spanish Influenza in this community, no definite orders were received until Dr. Granville REYNARD who is the county Health Officer received the following message from Dr. J.N. HURTY of the State Board of Health which says:   Dr. Granville Reynard, Union City, Ind., "You are hereby ordered to close at once all schools, churches and places of public amusement and FORBID ALL PUBLIC MEETINGS IN RANDOLPH COUNTY until further notice. On account of epidemic influenza I require your physicians to report all cases of epidemic Spanish Influenza to a health officer and the health officer will report daily to the State Board of Health. Communicate this order promptly to all Health Officers in Randolph County by order of the State Board of Health.  J.N. HURTY Secty.
  Dr. Reynard, after communicating with the various boards or health officers over the county announced that all schools, churches and all theatres had been ordered closed and the local undertakers were ordered not to hold any funerals in the churches where a public gathering could take place and that the Community Fair would be called off.
  Although factories, business houses and all concerns where a number of persons are employed, are not included in the present order, it is asked that employers take every precaution to guard against the epidemic.
  The Jackson, Wilson and Wayne central schools have been closed and will remain closed until the epidemic is over. There is no reason for our people to panic over the conditions existing in our community, you know the true conditions as they really exist, there are over forty cases in our community and several deaths and the only way that it can be successfully stamped out, is for us all to join in and comply with the rules and regulations as laid down by the men who are skilled in the combating of this dreaded disease. If you have a severe cold, see a physician at once.
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Oct., 1918.   The Spanish Influenza is spreading rapidly over this state and Friday two schools in Randolph County were closed. One death occurred north of Union City and there are now 43 cases in town. There is only one thing for our citizens to do and that is to follow Dr. HURTY's  orders to the letter in regard to hygiene and careful living.
  The newspaper has published columns of reading matter this past week, showing the proper procedure of combating the disease and has tried to refrain from mentioning just what the local conditions were, until now, when we feel it our duty to inform the citizens that the time has arrived when an organized effort must be put forth to stamp out the disease locally which is rapidly spreading. It is not necessary for anyone to become hysterical on the subject. These are serious times and anyone that has a severe cold should consult a physician at once. That is the best advice that we or anybody else can give you.
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 Flu Victim.   Spanish Influenza claimed its first victim in Winchester when Miss Elsie GERHARD died. Miss Gerhard had been county food demonstrator since the creation of the office last March.
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To Avoid Influenza.   The following precautionary rules for the avoidance and lessening of the intensity of the epidemic of the Spanish influenza have been prepared by Dr. Wm. F. Lincoln, advisor of the Lake Division, American Red Cross.
Here are the rules:
1.  All colds, however slight, should be treated as possible attacks of influenza. Patients affected by colds should stay at home and sterilize any discharge from the nose and throat.
2.  Avoid touching or spreading of the disease.
3.  Avoid crowds.
4.  Regulate bodily functions and keep them so.
5.  Avoid the breath or expelled secretions from people suffering from colds.
6.  Wash out the nose and throat two or three times daily by a nasal spray or doucher and gargle with a normal salt solution (one-half teaspoonful salt to a glass (eight ounces) of clean water.)
7.  All those in attendance of patients with influenza should wear masks.
8  Clothing should be warm and dry. Food simple and easily digester. Drink water freely.
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The Spanish Influenza seems to have came to Randolph County around the first of September, 1918 and had pretty well ran its course by May of 1919, about eight or nine months. I'll have more on the flu in Randolph as I have time and if I'm allowed to come to the museum. Stay safe and WASH YOUR HANDS. mh

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185. Winchester Pool Drowning of John Albert Davis (1942), son of The Pop Corn Man

Diving accident victim to be buried in Winchester today; autopsy reveals lung congestion as cause of death

July 20, 1942.

John Albert Davis. Photo source: Find A Grave online, January 2020. 

     Funeral services for John Albert Davis, 14, fatally injured in a diving accident at the Goodrich park swimming pool in Winchester Saturday morning, will be conducted today at 10 a.m. at the Main street Church of Christ in charge of Rev. Raymond D. Harris. Burial will be in Fountain Park cemetery.
   
     Johnny was the son of Mrs. Estrella B. Davis, Winchester city clerk-treasurer. He died about six hours after attempting a difficult full gainor dive, striking his head on the diving board, falling into the nine-foot pit and sinking to the bottom.

     Although he sustained a slight concussion, death at the Randolph County hospital at 4:45 p.m. was due to acute pulmonary edemas -a lung congestion. The accident occurred at 10:45 a.m.

Autopsy Reveals Cause
   
     An autopsy performed Sunday morning by Dr. L. M. Montgomery of Muncie revealed the cause of death.
   
     The fatal injury to the Winchester youth was the second in the five-year-old existence of the modern pool, a Lynn youth drowning after an attach of cramps about four years ago.

     Although the pool was closed to the public at the time of the accident, the youth had been given permission to swim, inasmuch as he helped his mother in the afternoons at the well known pop corn stand on the east side of the courthouse square.

     In the pool at the time, however, was Mrs. Esther Engle Baker, Winchester swimming instructor, and a class of her young pupils.

     The Davis boy's body was brought to the surface by Robert Barnes, Winchester high school teacher and former manager of the pool, who was standing in the bath house doorway when his, and Mrs. Baker's, attention was called to the accident by Junior Hawley, a lifeguard who was raking the beach.

     Both Mrs. Baker and Barnes hurried to the deep pit, Barnes after seeing the boy's body come up from the bottom to about a foot from the top, making a surface dive and retrieving the body on the first plunge.

Regains Consciousness

     Squatting momentarily on the bottom for a spring, an arm around the boy, Barnes shot to the top, swam with the boy to shallow water, carried him to the grass and used artificial respiration.

     Johnny gained consciousness after "six or seven pushes," according to Barnes, remarking that "the back of my head hurts" and that he wanted his mother. Johnny was under the water less than two minutes, it was estimated.

     The boy was taken to the hospital in the Summers ambulance.
   
     With Johnny on the tower was Glen Coffman. He was not swimming, however, Bill Ferguson, another lifeguard, was working in the bath house.

     Johnny, according to George Daly, pool manager, was a good swimmer and diver. Every diver, however, he said, is cautioned against attempting difficult dives.

     Daly, ironically, had just arrived at Mrs. Davis's office in the city building to settle up the previous day's business when the call came in that her son was injured.

     Survivors, other than the mother, are two brothers, Loland of the U. S. air corps at Rantoul, Ill., and Robert at home; two sisters, Mrs. Mary Alice Keys of Winchester and Mrs. Alice Janet Surratt of Dayton, Ohio; and two grandfathers, J. A. Davis of Breckenridge, Mich., and John Lake of McAllen, Texas. The father, Orla L. (Pat) Davis, former clerk-treasurer, died last November.

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MORE OF THE STORY...

1940 United States Federal Census
Year: 1940
Census Place: Winchester, Randolph, Indiana
Roll: m-t0627-01089; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 68-28; Number of household in order of visitation: 36. 

Orla L. Davis
Age: 52, born about 1888, male, race: white, birthplace: Indiana.
Married, head of household.
Home is owned: 229 Ceash, Winchester, Randolph County, Indiana. Same residence in 1935. Value of home: 3,000.
Occupation: Operator Proprietor. Highest grade completed: 7th grade. Weeks worked in 1939: 52. Income: 800.

Estrella B. Davis
Age: 44, born about 1896, female, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Married, wife to head of household.
Occupation: Clerk Treasurer as wage or salary worker in Government work. Highest grade completed: 8th grade. Weeks worked in 1939: 50. Income 1300.

Alice J. Davis
Age: 16, born about 1924, female, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Daughter to head of household.
Attended school or college: Yes. Highest grade completed: high school, 2nd year.

John A. Davis
Age: 11, born about 1929, male, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Son of head of household.
Attended school or college: Yes. Highest grade completed: 5th grade.

Robert E. Davis
Age: 10, born about 1930, male, white, birthplace: Indiana.
Son of head of household.
Attended school or college: Yes. Highest grade completed: 3rd grade.

W. E. Watson
Age: 27, born about 1913, male, white, birthplace: Oklahoma. Married.
Lodger is relationship to head of household.
Residence in 1935: Ottawa, Oklahoma.
Occupation: Machine Operator. Highest grade completed: 1st year of college.
Weeks worked in 1939: 38. Income 1700.

Ruth Watson
Age: 27, born about 1913, female, white, birthplace: Oklahoma. Married.
Lodger is relationship to head of household.
Residence in 1935: Ottawa, Oklahoma.
Highest grade completed: 3rd year of college.

Billy E. Watson, Junior
Age: 17, born about 1923, male, white, birthplace: Oklahoma. Single.
Lodger's son is relationship to head of household.

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Pat Davis, the 'pop corn man', dies at his home in Winchester
November 8, 1941

     Orla Lou (Pat) Davis, 53, died suddenly at 4 p.m. Friday at his home, 229 East Franklin street, Winchester. Death is believed to have been caused by a heat attack. The body was discovered by one of his sons.
     Afflicted with a bone disease while a young man, which necessitated amputation of an arm and a leg, Mr. Davis despite these adversities provided for a large family, became clerk-treasurer of Winchester during the administration of Mayor John P. Clark and was regarded as a successful business man.
     Known far and wide in Democratic party circles, Mr. Davis was also renowned in eastern Indiana and western Ohio for his "Pats'" pop corn which he dispensed on the east side of the courthouse square. Although an ardent Democrat, his counsel was sought by members of both parties on political questions.
     Surviving are the wife, Estrella, clerk-treasurer of Winchester; three sons, Loland Bruce, John Albert and Robert Earl, and two daughters, Mrs. Mary O. Keys and Alice Janet Davis, all of Winchester; four grandchildren; the father, James A. Davis of Breckenridge, Mich.; and five brothers, Earl of Winchester, Uriah and Charles of Park Ridge, Ill., Russell of Chicago, and Raymond of Newark, Ohio.
     The body was removed to the Clark and Maynard funeral home, where last rites will be conducted Sunday at 2 p.m. with Rev. Raymond D. Harris in charge. Burial will be in Fountain Park cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 12 o'clock Saturday.
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World War 1 Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918
Orla L. Davis

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Who else is John Albert Davis age (born 1928) and what happened in history when he died (1942)? 
  
Famous People Born in 1928.
Fred Rogers. on March 20th.
Shirley Temple on April 23rd.
Rosemary Clooney on May 23rd.
Andy Warhol on August 6th.

Famous People Born in 1929.
Martin Luther King Jr. on January 15th.
Audrey Hepburn on May 4th.
Anne Frank on June 12th.
June Carter Cash on June 23rd.
Grace Kelly on November 12th.
Christopher Plummer on December 13th.

Historical facts of 1942.
US President: Franklin D. Roosevelt.
United Nations created with agreement of 26 countries.
The cost of a first-class stamp is 3 cents.
The cost of a gallon of gasoline is 15 cents.
The cost of a bottle of Coca-Cola is 5 cents.
Instant Coffee is introduced.
The Alaska Highway is completed from Alaska through Canada.
The first health maintenance organization (HMO), Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, began in California.
Napalm, a jelly-like mixture of gasoline and palm oils that sticks to its target until it burns out, was invented.
World War II: War Bonds were introduced. Voice of America begins broadcasting. Car makers stop making cars and start making war materials. Doolittle Raid is the first air raid attack on Tokyo, Japan. The minimum draft age is lowered from 21 to 18. K9 corps begins training dogs for use in warfare. US gasoline rationing goes into effect at 3 gallons per week. The Women's Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) is created. The Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES) is created.
Relocation camps for 120,000 Japanese and persons of Japanese ancestry living in western US were established.  Canada also interned Japanese Canadians.
Movies & Music & Sports: Walt Disney film "Bambi" premiered. The film "Casablanca" premiered. Bing Crosby released the song "White Christmas" from the film "Holiday Inn." The first "gold record" was created by RCA Victor when gold was sprayed over Glenn Miller's million-copy-seller "Chattanooga Choo Choo." The St. Louis Cardinals won the World Series.
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184. Randolph County Short Notes

Fuel Riot In Harrisville.   A small sized riot nearly took place at our neighboring town of Harrisville yesterday. The Pierce Elevator Co. had shipped in a carload of coal and farmers came in from around the area and proceeded to load up. A halt was called and several who had woods on their farms were informed that they were barred from taking coal.
  This caused considerable dissatisfaction and the Fuel Commissioner was called and his decision was that nobody was to have coal that had fuel on their farms. Those who have no timber will get coal in half ton lots to carry them over but the other fellows will have to "saw wood."   Union City Times, January 23, 1918.
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Growth Of Martindale Church.   The Randolph County Historical Society held their April, 1968 meeting at the Martindale Friends church and Lewis MAY, pastor of the church gave a welcome to the group and read a short history of the church.
  He stated that Moses MARTINDALE entered land in the extreme southeastern corner of West River Township in 1917, and it is believed that the creek received it's name from Moses Martindale as well as the church. The old creek is still there but is buried and is now only a tile ditch.
  The preparative meeting was established at Jackson Schoolhouse in 1886. Betsy HODGIN and Isaac FRAZIER, with their families, donated the land and contributed both financially and with labor. This meetinghouse was built of logs in the fall of 1887. It was dedicated by Benjamin F. MORRIS December 4, 1887.
  The list of charter members given includes several JOHNSONS, BALDWINS, EDWARDS and FRAZIER names plus others.
  Congregations were large for several years; often all sitting room and standing room was taken. Fourth day meetings were held regularly, and the speaker related when ten-o'clock came on fourth day morning the horses were unhitched, even if they were in the middle of the field. All work stopped and they went to meeting. Martindale organized its own monthly meeting December 3, 1956.
  Descendants of the Martindales attended: Mr. and Mrs. Voyle Martindale from Greensfork, Wayne county.   Winchester Journal-Herald, May, 1968.
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Huntsville Loses Landmark.   This article is from an unknown newspaper dated August 25, 1934.

  With the recent razing of a building that for more than three-quarters of a century was the trade center of a greater part of southern Randolph County, Huntsville people realize that they have lost the last link that connected the community with the earliest history of the village.
  It was necessary to remove the old landmark, in which for generations a general store was operated, in the interest of safety.
  Huntsville became a century-old community in 1932 and the building that has just been razed was only four years younger than the community. The ancient store came into being in 1836 and was the pride of the Kentucky and Virginia pioneers who founded the town. It was built by a Wesley KEENER but it was Richard JOBES who first occupied the building and opened the community's first store.
 The article goes on to detail the recollections of Mrs. Docia (BUTLER) BOTKIN, a native and longtime resident of Huntsville then nearly 90 years old, who at the time was making her home with a granddaughter, Miss Alice STARBUCK, in Winchester. Mrs. Botkin, the article states, was the daughter of one of Huntsville's first settlers.
  Mrs. Botkin recalls that the first storekeeper of Huntsville, Mr. Jobes, was a very important and a very busy member of the community. He not was the one merchant in a large expanse of territory, but he was also postmaster, the first to be appointed to the office and a teacher in the grammar school.
  After Mr. Jobes' passing Mrs. Botkin reports, the store building was purchased by Levi JOHNSON, scion of another pioneer Huntsville family: and he operated the store, now expanded by the erection of an addition, from 1868 to 1903.
  After that business began to decline, the article goes on to say, and after a few years the store was closed. The building was occupied for a time as a garage but then became vacant and eventually had to be torn down. This was likely regretted by a number of the residents who realized that it had represented their link with Huntsville's earliest years and who were proud of its history.  Winchester Journal-Herald, June, 1968.
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Pop Bottle Brings Headache.   Car damage was light when two women drivers collided about three miles north of Winchester on U.S. 27 and the collision injured neither but the drivers incurred minor injuries when they squared off after the crash in a fist fight.
  Lucille BUTT, 19, Versailles, Ohio, driver of one of the cars, was treated by a local physician for bruises caused by a blow from a pop bottle, Sheriff Perry JENNINGS said, while the other driver, Clara ASHLEY, 24, of 830 North Main street, Winchester, escaped with bruises insufficient to require medical treatment.
  Neither of the combatants was arrested.   Winchester Journal Herald, April, 1957.
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Devor School Sold.   The old Devor school building, one mile south and a quarter mile west of North Salem northwest of Union City, was sold by the Jackson township trustee, Neil GETTINGER, to Edward CURTNER for $415.
  The original building and plot was acquired by the township from Thomas and Nancy DEVOR on February 11, 1863 to use as a school. In 1901 the township purchased the present plot and built a new building which was 30 feet by 60 and constructed of brick veneer.
  Sometime between 1913 and 1916 the building was abandoned as a school and used for the election of township officials for several years. Ten years ago the election balloting was moved to the Jackson township school, and for the first time in its long, useful history the old Devor building was completely vacant.   Winchester Journal Herald,  July 26, 1945.
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Teacher Retires.   As Mary WALL prepared to close her teaching career, she was surprised by a visit from a former student who presented her with the standard "red apple for the teacher". The former pupil was James CLOUSE, who had been a fourth grader 26 years ago when Mrs. Wall temporarily taught that grade at the former Central school. At the same time another apple was presented the teacher by Jim's son, Rory, now a third grader in Mrs. Wall's class at Willard.
  Although the two-generation span is considerable, it represents only part of the length of Mrs. Wall's teaching experience, which began in 1927. After graduating from Ball State, she taught two years at the former McKinley school, starting in 1927, then two years at Lincoln in White River township. There, after an eight-year leave of absence, she returned to her vocation in 1939 with three and a half years at McKinley. Except for part years spent as a replacement in various area schools, Mrs. Wall did no further teaching until she accepted the position of third grade teacher at Willard in 1950, a position she has held through 1968. Her actual teaching time totals 26 years.
  Mrs. Wall, who is married to Jim Wall, Randolph County Democrat chairman and supervisor of this district of the state highway department, has three married daughters-Nancy, Judy and Susan, and five grandchildren.
  Now there will be plenty of opportunity for visits and enjoying her family, but for the being, Mrs. Wall says, she'd just like to "hunt up three other bridge players and stay home."   Winchester Journal Herald, June 1, 1968.
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Coal Shortage Is Driving Farmers To Their Supply Of Wood.   It is beginning to look as if the ringing out of the woodman's axe on the cold frosty air is soon to become a familiar sound again. Owing to the prevailing and apparently continuous shortage of coal, the people who live in rural Randolph County are being compelled to look after the supply of wood on their places. In most cases this supply is abundant and where it is not plentiful there are many places where wood, tops, driftwood etc. may be had for the cutting. In many places the finest kind of stove wood has been allowed to go to waste and after being all cut to stove size is rotten in the ricks. We know of one place where the owner has for years cut wood stove size and stacked it up in ricks all over the barnyard. And then he left it to rot. There were originally probably fifty cords of it and now owing to rot, there is only about half of it left in burnable shape.
  This condition of things has also caused a brisk demand for axe handles, bucksaws and cross-cut saws for the first time in many years. Ed McFARLAND, the New Pittsburg storekeeper says that he can hardly supply the demand for axe handles. This is surely sensible too, for there is no nicer, sweeter, more comfortable heat than that of a wood fire. Besides, by using up the visible supply of stove wood it would hold to that extent at least to relieve the shortage of coal for folks who have to depend entirely on coal.   Union City Times, January 2, 1918.
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RYAN, FRAZE, LEWIS, ENGHAUS.   Mrs. William H. RYAN and her daughter, Mrs. Merrell (Barbara) FRAZE, of Winchester, have contributed the story of an ancestor of theirs who became an early settler of Randolph County for a reason which was, to say the least, unique.
  Joel LEWIS (Jr.), great grandfather of Mrs. Ryan, was born in 1806 at Crab Orchard, Kentucky (terminus of the Wilderness Road, or Boone's Trace), during the course of his parents migration from Rowan City, North Carolina. Soon afterward the family resumed its journey, settling in Bellbrook, Ohio.
  When Joel was twelve years old, an older sister's marriage precipitated a crisis in his life. Upon the sisters departure, it was decreed that young Joel should assume some of her housekeeping duties.
  Horrified at the thought, and knowing that there was no escape from this disgrace if he stayed, the boy simply left home and allied himself with a band of Miami Indians then passing through the neighborhood.
  He won complete acceptance from the Indians during the six years or more that he lived and travelled with them, and through tribal ceremonies was adopted and given full status as a brave.
  He returned to his family as suddenly as he had left but a grown man now, in the dress and trappings of an Indian brave. A year or so later, in 1825, he married Mercy Vaughn FALLIS and began to make plans for the future.
  There was a place that he remembered from his travels with the Indians, where he wanted to make his home. It was in the vicinity of the Mississinewa river in Randolph County.
  So it was that a boys abhorrence of housework led to a strange odyssey, which in turn gave our county one of it's early and permanent families.
  Settling in Ward Township in 1827, Joel and Mercy bought two forty-acre plots. Part of the purchase price was obtained by making long rides to Dayton, Ohio to sell maple sugar cakes.
  The Lewises lived in a log cabin for awhile; but as their family grew toward its eventual number of thirteen children they made bricks on the farm and brought in a brick mason from Cincinnati to build a house, finishing the interior in walnut.
  Still in use after a century and a quarter, or more, their house is the present home of the Charles ENGHAUS family. It stands on a knoll overlooking a creek, east of Stone Station and west of the Clear Creek church at Five Points. The old Clark school building, still standing, is across the road from the farm.
  Two or three miles to the north flows the Mississinewa, where Joel Lewis once fished and hunted as a Miami Brave.   By Marianna Reed for the Winchester Journal-Herald, March, 1968.
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183. Cooking At The Jail

Cooking Is Not Easy Task At Crowded County Jail

The Winchester Journal Herald
March 2, 1961

 
   Cooking for threshers would be no task for the Randolph county sheriff's wife. As jail matron, Mrs. Juanita Roberson has been chief cook and dietician at the Randolph county jail since her husband's election as sheriff in 1959. This week she has been preparing three meals a day for around twenty people besides her own family. The twenty were all non-paying guests. Naturally, since there is no way of telling who is going to be in jail from day to day, it is difficult to figure ahead with any exactness. But an advantage which might counter-balance this is that it wouldn't do the guests a bit of good to complain about their meals since they are a captive group who have no choice of menu.
  Up until 1960 the jail was rarely as crowded as now. Last year, however, a new state law was passed, requiring that each prisoner to be sentenced must be held for a pre-sentence investigation and report by the county probation officer. Randolph county has no full-time probation officer.
  The head of the county welfare department, Anthony Johnson, adds this job to his many other duties, and the pre-sentence reports are therefore sometimes delayed.
  This means that a prisoner is often held for days or sometimes weeks, before he can be finally sentenced, although he may have been arraigned and have pleaded guilty. The delay caused by this new law shows up dramatically in jail reports. In 1959 a total of 5,537 meals were served at the jail to 416 prisoners, or an average of 16 meals each. But in 1960, after the passage of the new law, 8783 meals were served to only 377 prisoners, or an average of 23 meals each.
  This month started off with a full house, Mrs. Roberson reports. By this time last year, she had served 76 people a total of 2,016 meals. It appears that business is going to be booming again this year. This week there were around 20 or more jail inmates every day
  The budgeting of prisoner-meals is quite a task, when nobody can tell in advance how many "guests" will be on hand. Besides this, there is storage space at the jail for only three days supplies. Food is not purchased by bids, but from week to week through personal shopping.
  Three times a day the shining aluminum plates and cups are lined up and filled, and passed through a grilled steel opening to the waiting prisoners. For breakfast, Mrs. Roberson says a typical meal would be cereal with milk and sugar, a roll or doughnut or orange, coffee or tea for the adults and milk or Kool-Aid for juveniles. The noon meal, the largest of the day, might be green beans and potatoes cooked together, ham, bread and butter, cookies and coffee. Supper might be soup and crackers, a sandwich, potato chips, fruit and coffee.
  Holiday meals are special, prisoners sharing the Roberson's menu of turkey and trimmings at Christmas and Thanksgiving. This past Sunday, the menu was chicken and noodles with mashed potatoes.
  Mrs. Ethel Roberson, the sheriff's mother, helps with preparation of the meals. The two women divide up the work, with the elder woman serving as chief bread-butterer and potato peeler, the younger as cup and tray filler and chief cook.

  Jail-wise inmates, who have sampled food behind bars in many counties and states, say that eating at the local calaboose is tops. One or two young men who have put in considerable time behind bars here have even gotten fat on the fare. Several have been highly appreciative. "Food in some of them other jails is awful," one remarked thoughtfully. "I don't like to starve." Mrs. Roberson believes firmly that just because a man is in jail is no reason for him to go hungry. The bread-and-water routine is out as far as she is concerned. The prisoner's plates are filled at each meal with substantial helpings, but there are no seconds.
  The sheriff's wife remembers only one complaint about her food. This came from a juvenile prisoner who, it turned out, complained because he missed his diet of soft-drinks, candy and cupcakes. Once in awhile a moody prisoner refuses to eat, but not often. Most have good appetites, having nothing much else to do than wait from meal to meal.
  Some jails serve only two meals a day, the sheriff's wife observes, and often pretty poor meals at that. But this doesn't seem right to her. "It's bad enough to be in jail, without being hungry," she says firmly.
  Recently, commissioners allotted the jail an increase for prisoners meals. The first 300 meals are now budgeted at 50 cents; 300 to 500, 45 cents; 500 to 1,000, 40 cents. "At the rate they are coming and staying, we'll probably be down to 35 cent meals before long," Mrs. Roberson said with resignation this week. But you have the feeling she'll manage to figure out a pretty appetizing menu for her prisoners, even on that allowance.   By Anna Marie Gibbons, Win. Jrl-Hrld. March, 1961.

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182. More Meaningless Winchester Shorts 3-9-2020

Main St. Christian Church, Aug. 16, 1967.   Restoration has begun on the old Marsh home located just south of the Main Street Christian Church in Winchester. One of the city's oldest houses, the building was purchased some years ago by the church and is now being restored to serve as a manse.
  The Rev. Harold E. SIMONES who has been minister of the First Christian Church at Medina, Ohio, for the past seven and a half years has accepted the pastorate of the Winchester church.
  Mr. Simones replaces the Rev. Joseph FITCH, who left some months ago to take a position with a physical research institute in Chicago.
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A World War II Sherman tank, obtained earlier this year through the efforts of the American Legion and National Guard, will be dedicated during special ceremonies on Memorial Day. The tank has been set on a concrete base on the southeast corner of the county courthouse lawn and has been designated as a memorial to Randolph county veterans of World War II and the Korean conflict.   Win. Journal-Herald, May 27, 1958.
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Driver High Junior Class Slaves To Be Sold!   Baby-sitters, window-washers, snow-shovelers and odd-job types will be on sale at the Driver high school gymnasium, at a slave mart where anyone can buy a few hours' labor. On the block will go members of the Driver junior class, selling their leisure time to gain funds for next year's class trip.
  The villain of the market, the hard-hearted auctioneer, complete with whip and whiskers, will be Faye FISHER.
  Juniors on sale will be Steve CONKLIN, Mike HAWLEY, Mike ROMACK, Tim COCKERILL, Nancy WALL, Sheila SIMMONS and two alternates, Ledajean MILLER and Dave HURRY.
  At a meeting this week, a committee of parents outlined the rules for the project. They state that slaves purchased can be used at any time; for instance, a slave bought now can be hired to clean up a yard or wash windows next spring.
  Hours of course must be limited by the juniors' available time, which will be after school and Saturdays. A minimum wage of $1 per hour was set for the work.
  Members of the committee are Mr. and Mrs. Calmer JONES, Mr. and Mrs. Ralph PITTMAN, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon KEYS, Mr. and Mrs. Clarence HURRY.  Win. Jrl-Hrld., Feb. 3, 1961.
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The true meaning of Christmas in music and pageantry will be presented for the first time on the south side of the Randolph county courthouse lawn starting December 20 through 23. The "Living Nativity Pageant" is being presented in joint co-operation with the Winchester Chamber of Commerce and Ministerial Association. This project is being presented by these two groups in order to impress upon the people the true meaning and spirit of the Christmas season. The Rev. Harold PRIDDY and William FITTS are co-chairmen.  By Jacqueline GUSTIN, Win. Jrl-Hrld, Nov. 30, 1965.
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Goodrich Bros. Grain Co. Will Close, March, 1948. Acme-Evans Co. Is Buyer.   A retail coal, feed and grain business had previously been done at the Goodrich Bros. elevator on the west side of Main street and this will be consolidated with the United Grain company and all retail business at the Goodrich Bros. elevator will be discontinued.
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Young Driver Knocks Out RR Signals.   Flasher light and block signals in the entire division of the Pennsylvania Railroad in this area were disorganized when a circuit box on the railroad at the intersection of Will and South West streets were damaged by an auto. The damage caused the flasher lights to operate continuously and disrupted the function of the block signals, making it necessary for local railroad officials to send out warnings north to Fort Wayne and south to Richmond during the hour period it took a crew to repair the damage, listed at $1,000.
  Winchester police chief Charles KIDWELL reported that the accident happened when Coy LAWSON, 16, of 612 North West street, driving on Will street, failed to stop at the stop sign and rammed broadside into a northbound auto on South West street, driven by Bobbie Gene TUCKER, 23, 529 1/2 S. Main street, Winchester.
  The impact threw the Tucker car into the circuit box. Lawson's mother, Mrs. Bernice Lawson, 612 N. West street, was arrested by Kidwell for permitting her son to drive on a beginner's permit without a licensed driver in the car. She is slated to appear in city court on Thursday.   Win. Jrl-Hrld., Jan. 30, 1961.
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The first of the new mercury arc street lights are being installed around the square by the Indiana & Michigan Electric Co.  Nov., 1965.
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July, 1945.  Winchester baseball fans will be treated to two special games at the Goodrich Park diamond when the Youth Center nine meets Mt. Summit and Anchor-Hocking tangles with Farmland.
  The Youth Center line-up is as follows; Jimmy PASSMORE, catcher; Charles M. OWENS, pitcher; Ray CULLERS, short stop; Bill HAWKINS, first base; Fred ARMSTRONG, second base; Bill THOMPSON, third base; Charles D. OWENS, left field; Ray FOGLE, center field and Max BROWN, right field. Manager Howard WHITE also stated that Jack HARRELL would be on the pitching mound during the game. Early in the season the Youth Center boys won over Mt. Summit by a score of 16 to 1.
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Some Of The Businesses Around Town In 1965.   Saylor's Orchard Mkt. located on N. Main, formerly the site of Fleet's Drive-In. Cider, apples etc.,  Harvey CAUPP Auto Sales, 637 W. Washington, 1965 Barracuda 2 door hardtop, V-8, Torque-Flite transmission, white with black interior, 8,000 miles, $2,992, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 door hardtop, jet black finish, 283 V-8 engine, 3 speed floor shift, $595.00,  The Sports Center in the By-Lo building, N. Meridian, dealer in Browning shotguns, rifles and pistols, Brunswick bowling balls, shirts, shoes and bags,  Cooper Furniture, 120 N. Main, 5 Piece Bedroom Group by 'Bassett', $159.00,  St. John Chevy-Olds Used Car Lot, 210 N. Main, 1964 Plymouth Sport Fury, Big Engine, 4-Speed With All The Goodies, $1795.00,  Lynwood Barber Shop, 130 N. Main, Now Has The New Wahl 'Clipper-Vac,' cleanest, most satisfying haircut you've ever had,  A.T. Engle & Sons, 125 S. Main, The new 'No Frost' 13.9 cu. ft. Kelvinator Refrigerator, $349.00,  Henizer & Shoopman Cash Grocery, formerly Best's, N. Side of Square, Kahn Weiners, 1 lb. pkg. .65, Grass Seed-Peat Moss-Mulch- Cow Manure,  Dairy Queen, 624 E. Washington, Banana Split Sale, Regularly .45, Sale Price .29,  Penneys, south side of square, Special group of All Weather Coats, $9.44, Rich Orlon 'Shrugs', $3.99,  Lad 'N Lass, north side of square, infants and children's clothing, needs and gifts,  Crawford's Jewelry & Gifts, south side of square,  Durbin Inc., Marsym Shopping Center, State Roads 32 & 27,  Sipe's Store, north side of square, paint, wallpaper with matching fabric, gifts and toys,  Leota's Ladies Fashions, 112 S. Meridian,  Haflich & Morrissey Shoes, east side of square,  Pursley Inc., St. Rd 32 west edge of town, Hotpoint Appliances and complete electrical service,  Robbins Gift Shop, south side of square, Herb and 'Toots' ROBBINS,  M & M Fashions, 213 S. Main,  Gettingers Gulf Station, 225 W. Washington,  Fashion Beauty Shop, 219 E. Franklin, Floyd FOUSE Is Now Employed Full Time,  Courtesy Coffee Shop, Randolph Hotel, 11 Year Anniversary, Organ Music by 'Huck' BRINER,  Whitesel Drive-In Cleaners, 801 S. Main, across from Fountain Park,  McClurg's Store, north side of square, greeting cards, books, stationery etc.,  Western Auto, south side of square,  Cody's Beauty Shop, 512 N. Main, Linda MOORE, Susie ADAMS, Cody SANZO,  Keener's Sports Store by the Fire Station,  Now Open - Bobbi's Beauty Bar in the Randolph Hotel, owned and operated by Bobbi CLOUSE,  Gullett Standard Service Station, 113 E. Washington, Jake - Don - Bobby Ray,  Wilkinson Lumber Company, 225 W. North,  Coming Soon, 'Jo's Pizza", located in the former Fleet's Drive-In bldg. on N. Main, owned and operated by Ralph and Barbara MILLS,  Hook's Drug Store opens in the Mar-Sym shopping center Nov. 11, 1965,  G.C. Murphy 5 & 10, 119 S. Main,  The Cove Restaurant, 600 Union St.,  Overmyer Furniture, 132 N. Main,  Graft's 5 - 10, north side of square, Boston Store, south side of square,  Ralph FISHER Hardware, formerly Magee Hdwe., north side of square,  Loidl Hardware, formerly Payne's Hdwe., east side of square.
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A fire fed by broken gas pipes swept the baking area at Wick's Pie Shop on Greenville Ave., burning off a long section of the roof, ruining one of two baking furnaces and doing other extensive damage to the equipment and building.
  Owner, Duane WICKERSHAM, surveying the damage later, commented that the blaze "couldn't have come at a worse time." He explained that the pre-Thanksgiving period is one of the shop's busiest, and that the pileup of orders would have continued through Christmas.  Win. Journal-Herald, Nov. 18, 1965.
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Those Rowdy OMCO Employees.  A complaint for injunction and damages, asking $25,000, has been filed by Zella FOUSE, of 422 North Meridian St., Winchester, against the Overmyer Mould Co.
  Mrs. Fouse asks that the company be enjoined from permitting its employees to commit certain acts, and from causing what her complaint terms destruction of her peace of mind and reduction of her property value through a number of acts or conditions of factory operation.
  In her complaint, Mrs. Fouse sets forth that the Overmyer company bought real estate south of her residence in 1946, built a factory extension and parking lot; that the company bought real estate just east of her home in 1958 and made a company parking lot. Both of these properties formerly residential, she says.
  Specific complaints include charges that ; heavy machinery, operating until "the wee hours of the morning" causes disturbing noise and vibration, company employees are guilty of "loud and profane swearing...drunkenness and the use of vile and obscene language" clearly audible to Mrs. Fouse, her tenants and guests and which cause her extreme "embarrassment and mental anguish;" the factory furnace emits smoke and covers her home, car and property with soot; a floodlight at night lights her house; company employees are permitted to play radios at the plant loudly late at night; in the summer they are permitted to explode large fireworks in the area of the plant and her property; trucks coming and going from the plant are driven over her yard; the parking lots are unpaved and dust and employees trash blows off of them into her yard and house.
  The plaintiff sets forth that she has talked to company officials, objecting to these various things, but that they "either refused or neglected to act" to reduce the nuisance.  Win. Jrl-Hrld., Feb. 15, 1961. (Omco solved this problem when they bought her house and rentals and tore them down.)
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April, 1956.  A new golf pro was on hand when Winchester's Beeson course was opened for play for the first time this season--Gene STILES, 422 Thompson St. in Winchester.
  Stiles is taking over the pro's chores for Charlie VEAL, who resigned to manage the Union City Country Club. The new pro is 21 years old, young for a pro, but he has been playing pro golf since he was 16.
  Stiles worked as an assistant pro for four years before coming to Winchester, at the Broadmoor and Woodstock clubs in Indianapolis, and the Tippecanoe Country club near Warsaw. At the latter, he was assistant to Gil GIVIDEN, stat-renowned pro.
  In his "spare" time, Gene is giving a lot of help to Lloyd MITCHELL, coach of the Winchester high school golf squad, as assistant coach.
  Stiles says that the "Winchester Golf Club," an organization which has been more or less dormant for the past few seasons, will be reactivated this year. With the adding of new trees along the fairways and smoothing out of the rough spots, it is believed the club will greatly increase in attendance under the new pro.
  Allen WHITE will assist Stiles in overseeing the course and will help in handling the caddies. White is a student at Winchester high school.
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