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
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.
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.
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.
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