In last week's Democrat we gave an account of a Parke County baby that had nine living grandparents and another, a Moran, Clinton County girl, Donna Rodenberger, who had nine also. Now comes"Dodgertown," in eastern Carroll county to the front claiming the honor. Dean, the little son of Mr. and Mrs. Lora Overholser, has the distinctinion of having ten real flesh and blood grandparents and four by marriage as follows: Grandparents Mr. and Mrs. Charles Overholser, George McManama and Mrs. James Bridge. Great grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. D. G. Overholser, Mr. and Mrs. William McManama, Isaac Wagoner and Mrs. Rachel Richardson. Geo McManama and his first wife, who is now Mrs. James Bridge, separated and each married again, thus the little Overholser is entitled to four more grandparents because of the fact that one's grandfather's wife is his grandmother and one's mother's husband is his father. Therefore, George McManama, who was married to Orpha Jacobson and the second husband of Mrs. Bridge, are also grandparents. Mr. Bridge's mother, Mrs. Margaret Bridge is living as well as the mother of Orpha Jacobson, which gives the little Dodgertown boy fourteen grandparents. In case all these grandparents act silly as some grandparents we have known, won't the Overholser home be a fright about christmas time, with ball bats, hobby horses, drums, horns, guns, tin soldiers and other christmas junk? Mrs. Overholser will be compelled to wear cotton in her ears or go visiting about christmas time and on Dean's birthday. Hats off to the champion of Indiana, Dean Overholser,of Dodgertown. Flora Paper Friday November 12, 1948  It Was a county school house, and district number five; On the eighteenth of February, with children it was alive. It was the last recess, when we discovered fire, and to be shut out in the cold No one did admire. One teacher rang the bell, While pupils held their breaths And the neighbors who saw the fire, were frightened half to death. If they had had an engine when the fired did first break out They could have saved the building Without a single doubt. But there was no engine near, So they had to let it go; For with ladders and with buckets They couldn't make a show. And the way J.W. Clark did act, reminded me of coons' and Elmer Todds's eyes looked-- Well-- just like young moons. And all the girls with Jesse Landes, were standing very near; And now and then were seen to wipe away a tear. This is the house burned down, The 18th day, on Monday; And no one ever dreamed of it The day before, on Sunday. M.W. Mrs. Flora Smith, 1207 East Broadway, entertained Sunday afternoon at herhome for several classmates who had attended school together at the Wheeling School. Several of the guests had not seen each other for many years. None knew that the others would be at the Smith home that afternoon and were pleasantly surprised upon their arrival. Refreshments were served at the individual tables decorated in keeping with a Thanksgiving theme. Classmates who were present were Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Leona Francisco, of Frankfort; Mrs. Bright Kerns, of Flora; Mrs. Beryl Adams, of Delphi; Mrs. Helen McCracken, Attica; Mrs. Clarabell Mundell, of Tipton; Mrs. Mae Overholser, of South Bend; Mrs. Anna McCarty, of Frankfort and the Misses Millie and Faye Barber of Logansport. Other guests were Lora Overholser, Laurel McCarty, Frank Francisco, Merl Smith, Billy Kerns, Mrs. Carol Jean Marchal and two sons, and Mr. and Mrs. Carl Schubach and two sons. MONDAY EVE., NOV. 22, 1948 Born to Mr. and Mrs. Fred Hunt of Indianapolis, last Sunday, at the M.E. Hospital, in that city, a daughter, named Helen Lynne. The little girl is the first grandchild of Mr. and Mrs. Finis Hunt of Kokomo. IN MEMORY OF ANNA MAY WAGONER WHO DIED SUNDAY JAN. 19, Beautiful toiler, thy work all done, Beautiful soul into glory gone, Beautiful life with its crown now won, God giveth thee rest. Rest from all sorrow and watching and fears, Rest from all possible sighing and tears Rest through God's endless, wonderfull years, At home with the blest Beautiful spirit, free from all stain, Our's the heartache, the sorrow and pain, Thine is the glory and infinite gain, Thy slumber is sweet Peace in the heart, neath the white folded palm, Peace dropping down like Wonderful balm, Peace covering all, peace so calm, Close to the Judgment seat "It was so sudden," our voices said, How we shall miss her, the beautiful dead. Who can take the place of the precious one fled But God knows best We know that He watches the sparrows that fall Hears the sad cry of the grieved heart that call Friends, Parents, Brothers and Sisters, she loved you all And awaits you blessed (1896) ---- Dora Byrum FIRST REUNION PUPILS AND TEACHERS POPLAR GROVE SCHOOL SUCCESS The first annual reunion of the Poplar Grove School, Ervin Township, western Howard County, notice of which was given in a previous issue of the Democrat, was held on Thursday of last week in a grove two miles south of Young America. In all 175 were present, 93 of the number being former pupils and three teachers that have at one time been connected with the school. The services were opened at 9:30 with the song: "Blest Be The Tie That Binds", followed by prayer by Henry Barber. Letters were read by Secretary Ed Thomas from absent teachers and pupils in which they expressed regret at their inability to be present. The oldest man present was Andrew J. Forgey who is 88 and who has resided in Ervin Township for the past 70 years. He is a Mexican War veteran, one of the few that is now living in Indiana. The next oldest man present was Isaac Sense, of near Young America, who has resided in that community almost all his life and who is a veteran of the Civil War. At the noon hour a big dinner, which had been prepared in advance by the ladies, was served and lest those present forget, it was surely one of the most sumptuous that has ever been served in this part of the country. Yellow legged chicken and plenty of it appeased the hunger of the many present. Cakes and all the other delicacies helped finish up an otherwise perfect feast. The dinner was followed by a two hour "recess" during which time the many mingled together and got acquainted and discussed old times and the many good times had in school. Following this the jolly merry-makers were again called together to hear speeches by the teachers and by the various former pupils. A permanent organization was affected, J.H. Morris again being named as president and Ed Thomas, Secretary. It was also decided to hold another meeting of the kind again next year, the date being fixed as the third Saturday in August. There were present at the meeting .......that had gathered from the four corners of the earth. Some had not seen each other for over 40 years and yet recognition was instantaneous. The years rolled away as the "school boys" and the "school girls" met again and the occasion was a memorable one---one that will ever be remembered by those in attendance. If every person in Carroll County had the patriotism and spirit of Ted Hunsinger, invalid son of Mr. and Mrs. Clint Hunsinger, residing east of the city on State Road 18, it would be a simple matter indeed to raise and far over-subscribe the Sixth War Loan. Hopelessly crippled, he had saved money with which to purchase a wheel-chair, but realizing "The Boys over there" fighting his battles, must have weapons with which to end the struggle at some future date, took the money instead and bought a Bond. He has now purchased since the war began approximately $300.00 in Bonds. The following article, taken from the Prairie Farmer, will be of interest to our readers: "Love for our country is by no means limited to those who are sound of body. In Carroll County, for instance, there was one boy who felt very much alone when Junior Landes went to the Navy, Robert Scott to the Marines and Leland Wagoner to the Army. These boys had all grown up on nearby farms and were his friends. But Ted Hunsinger had to be left behind. There was no doubt of that, for Ted was never able to walk. An injury at birth deprived him of the use of both arms and legs. Later world famed specialists pronounced his case hopeless. Then came word one day that Joe Wagoner was listed missing in action in France (he later was reported a German Prisoner of War). Floyd McCain was dead in New Guinea. They were boys who had shared their early lives with Ted and he felt their loss keenly. "Surely," Ted thought, "there is something I can do." Over the radio to which he listens constantly, Ted heard the story of War Bonds and their importance. But it isn't easy to earn money if Providence has denied you the use of your arms and legs. In fact, it is next to impossible. Then Ted had an idea. Why not take the money from the sale of Toodles pups and invest it in bonds? (Toodles, incidentally, is a fine three-year-old Manchester Rat Terrier that belongs to Ted). Many folks were willing to pay $10 each for these pups and a couple of litters a year would surely pay for two War Bonds. That money could also be used to buy a wheel chair, which Ted needed very badly, but never has been able to own. Confined almost entirely to his home for lack of a chair, Ted never even hesitated. The money must go for War Bonds. "The chair," Ted decided, "could wait, but Victory can't" He bought two bonds for keep and has money for a third one which he is buying during the Sixth War Loan." Touched by such a sacrifice of a boy in Ted's condition, William H. Byrum, well known western Howard county farmer, hearing over the radio of Ted's gallantry, purchased the wheel chair for him and he is now enjoying its use. Our hats are off to a boy of Ted Hunsinger's patriotism. Miss Henrietta Montgomery and Miss Delores Thurman, both of Young America, were graduated recently from St. Elizabeth Hospital, Lafayette. Each graduated from Young America High School and went to St. Frances College, Lafayette, for one year. Miss Montgomery is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Montgomery and Miss Thurman is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Reed Thurman. When Carl B. McCain, son of Mr. and Mrs. D.J. McCain of Carrollton Township left for Darmstadt, Germany, where he is taking a course in the Biltmore Forest School, he told the Press he would let the people of Carroll County hear from him through it's columns and we publish the first letter received from him. It arrived Tuesday and the envelope was marked "Direckt Weg", meaning direct way or quickest route. The letter is very interesting and will interest our may readers. Biltmore Forest School Darmstadt, Germany, Oct. 14, 1912 Carroll County Press: The request has come to me for a letter telling something of my trip to Germany and of the work of the Biltmore Forest School. Anyone who has ever been to Europe is at once struck by the difference between the American cities, people and customs, and those of Europe. We left New York on Oct. 1, on the "New Amsterdam" of the Holland-American Line, and arrived in Rotterdam, Holland, on Oct. 10. This vessel is one of the easiest vessels to cross the Atlantic on. We didn't see a great deal of Rotterdam, but it surely is a quaint city. The streets do not run straight, but wind in every direction. Canals are seen everywhere and boats are busy carrying all sorts of commerce from place to place. One who has been used to American cities where drays carry everything wonders at the Dutch way of carrying and wheeling almost every sort of a load on hand carts. The stores are full of all sorts of trinkets and attractive objects. The Dutch are a very energetic people We left Rotterdam on the State railway for Darmstadt early Friday morning, Oct. 11, and rode all day. The sight of the German trains is almost laughable to an American. The engines are all built in England, and are of English type. The passenger cars are about as long as an average freight car in America and only a few have a passage way into other cars. The couplers are simple hooks and a brakeman takes his life in his hands when he couples one car to another one. The freight cars are really amusing; they leave single tracks and look more like wagons than freight cars. We boys wished we might see an engine of the Pacific type pulling a modern American train, rolling by. We actually saw two men pushing a car half full of coal. One is struck by the number of uniformed persons he sees. It must be remembered that the government own and operate most of the railway systems in Europe. The trip through Holland with its canals, windmills, low flat land, gardens and small forest tracts was full of interest. One could imagine he was on the western plains from the flatness of the land and the many cattle he sees. The American people could learn a little from the Dutch, in their methods of conservation. We saw many peasants wearing the wooden shoes for which Holland is famed. The ride through Germany until we came to Koln was through some of the best agricultural and factory sections of Germany. We saw women, children and men working in the fields everywhere. I don't remember seeing a two horse wagon anywhere. Everywhere we saw horses and sometimes cows pulling carts. We came to the Rhine at Cologne. Here we had a glimpse of the famous Cologne Cathedral. Here we saw the high bridge across the Rhine. I saw the floating bridge which Van Blue had the pleasure of crossing. From this point we traveled up the Rhine to Mainz. So many people have described the Rhine, and it is so beautiful, that I do not feel equal to it. One who has been to Europe and missed the trip up the Rhine with its famous old castles and castle ruins, the beautiful hills covered with vineyards, has certainly missed something grand. It seems impossible that hills so steep can be cultivated. Just at this time of the year with the Autumn colors the Rhine is especially beautiful, as Riley says, "It is a picture that no painter has the colorin' to mock." The river is full of river boats. Here is an excellent example of Government control. They river is improved everywhere to make a deep channel. We Americans might decrease the high cost of living by conserving our rivers more extensively than we do. Surviving old-time residents in the northwestern part of Howard County, the southern part of Cass County and the northern part of Carroll County probably will be surprised to note that the 60th anniversary of commission of the most sensational crime that ever excited that section is at hand. The allusion is to the abduction and murder of Luella Mabbitt, a young woman of the Young America neighborhood, by her rejected suitor, Amer Green, a notoriously reckless and dangerous young man of that same locality. The crime was committed one night in the first week of August, 1886. Green succeeded in getting the girl into his buggy at her home, presumably through urging her to take a farewell ride with him. No acquaintance ever saw her afterward. Green, knowing he was suspected of abducting the murdering the girl, stealthily slipped away. Several months later he was arrested in Ft. Worth, Texas, turned over to Buck Stanley, then sheriff of Cass County, and returned to Indiana. For safekeeping he was placed in the Carroll County jail at Delphi. One night a mob said to have been organized in the Young America and Poplar Grove neighborhoods invaded the jail, took Green from the cell room, drove with him to a point on a turnpike connecting the towns of Delphi and Flora and hanged him. Before he was executed, Green was given an opportunity to make a statement. He denied he had murdered the girl, but his statement was not convincing and the mob took the law into its own hands and executed him, leaving his body hanging to a limb of a walnut tree at the roadside. No details of the girl's abduction and cruel murder were ever unfolded. A body by some supposed to be hers, was found in the lower course of the Wildcat, but complete identification was never established. Exactly what happened to her after Green got her into his buggy is as much a mystery today as it was 60 years ago. The case is still talked about by veteran residents of the community in which the young man and young woman resided and were widely known. Few of them, however, realize that six decades have slipped into the past since that locality was startled by the sensational happening. The Hoosier Democrat offered a year's subscription and a pack of fine name cards to the pupil writing the best composition on "The Hoosier Democrat." The offer was open to the Senior Composition Class of the Flora High Schools, and Miss Jessie Landis, daughter of Jasper Landis, of Carrollton Township, carried away the honors. The other compositions are creditable. Miss Landis' composition follows: Six papers are published in the county, but the Hoosier Democrat leads in almost every respect. It leads because it published the most news of any paper in the county. It gathers news from "Dan to Beersheba." It has correspondents in almost every locality in the county, who send in those newsy little items that please the public so well. The Democrat has a very enterprising, hustling corps of editors and reporters. They get out their paper in a neat and attractive style, and it is always on time. Holiday week two editions of the paper were published showing the enterprise of the editors who are among the most popular citizens of Flora and enjoy the honor of having the most complete and up-to-date printing plant of any printing establishment in Carroll County. The Democrat is only five years of age and has the distinction of enjoying a larger circulation than most of the weekly papers that are published at the county seats in the state. It is because of its newsiness that it has 2,750 subscribers. People who once lived in Carroll County, and have gone to other counties or states, subscribe for the Democrat because they say they can get more home news in it. It is published later in the week and thus contains the latest. It reaches the busy farmer on Saturday, and he can sit down in the evening, after the week's work is done, and enjoy his paper. The office is situated on one of the principal streets of the town and is on the first floor, thus making it convenient to all parties having business with the paper. The Democrat also offers excellent club rates with many standard publications. The news is written up in a simple, straight forward manner, yet in good English, so that all classes of people can appreciate it. The people of Flora are enterprising and know a good thing when they see it and they all watch the Democrat for the news. JESSIE LANDIS [JANUARY,1903] Forty seven relatives of the late Daniel and Eliza Overholser met Sunday for the first reunion at Riverside Park. A picnic dinner was served at noon, with Wilbur Richardson, of Camden, leading in prayer. Officers elected for the next year include: Mrs. Harry Overholser, South Bend, president; Mrs. Fred Sines, Gary, vice president, and Mrs. Lora Overholser, South Bend, secretary treasurer. The Overholser reunion will be held next year on the second sunday in June at Riverside park. Transcribed by; Melanie Spychalski
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