SERVING HENDRICKS COUNTY SINCE 1847
Page A-2
The Republican
Delving Into Yester~Year
Local historian and writer Paul Miner takes items from
The Republican’s Yester-Year column to develop an interesting, informative and often humorous article.
To the Editor: I’m not slightly confident honor exists among the modern many today – at least comparable to past days of chivalry. Punishment with hyperbolic rhetoric was inevitable if clear-cut lines were crossed. Consider The Republican’s righteous reproof in May 1883 of undisclosed misdeeds of The Gazette’s editor, and the unworthy reaction of those “who have little respect for the will of the people. “These men have, by a liberal use of (the Gazette’s editor) as a vault cleaning suction pump, attempted to punish us . . . and escape the odium which would otherwise attach to them.” I wasn’t there, I know not the odium. Impugning a woman’s honor cost one’s life, The Republican reported in December 1881. A Mississippi man and his accomplice pursued a man for hundreds of miles and murdered him. “The killing was cold-blooded, merciless, horrible.” The reason? The victim had published “to the world a most scurrilous piece reflecting on the virtue” of the killer’s wife. “He had destroyed the good name of the lady forever.” Nothing within the law sanctioned the murder, but this was the deep South, where “public sentiment and custom, which are more powerful than the law, do give a southern man . . . the right to kill for a defamation” of a woman. A father, brother or husband was expected to mete justice for the insult. “One who does not do so is looked upon as a low coward.” Was it not “the very best protection of female virtue?” The paper clearly thought it was. “And to this fact we attribute the high standard of virtue among our southern women.” I posit that anyone questioning southern women’s virtue lived on borrowed time. Some clearly believed not a single southern woman lacked virtue, and The Republican’s editorial suggested shootings to protect Hendricks County women’s reputations. A year later, a local man was spending his “spare time in circulating false and slanderous stories against law-abiding and honorable citizens of the town.” Was that a hint he needed shooting? Today, the Internet can be scurrilously employed – often anonymously – to defame and encourage violence against just about anyone. A 17-year-old Central Normal student endured gossip, scandal, threats, and was induced to attempt strychnine suicide in 1885 after an affair gone bad with an older fellow student. A July 2 front-page editorial and story commanded townspeople’s attention. “Now that a poor girl, who is away from home and without any friends has been robbed of her virtue and outrageously abused,” the paper expected the “same vigilance” from college faculty as when the ex-town marshal struck a student in the post office lobby. The faculty and “entire Normal School” had convened “an indignation meeting” demanding the marshal’s prosecution. But what of the girl? She was not a local, and the villain reportedly took advantage of her. The paper tried and condemned him for his misdeed. Headlines summed the story, which contained “much rottenness.” It was “A Horrible Story of Crime.” Indeed, “Seduction, Breach of Promise, and Administering a Deadly Poison Charges.” Yes, a “Foolish Girl Betrayed, Ruined and Driven to Court the Embrace of Death.” The scoundrel took her to an Indianapolis hotel where they registered as man and wife. He promised to marry her. Soon afterward, she revealed she was pregnant. He replied he had seduced and pledged to marry yet another. The rogue urged the girl to induce an abortion, then suggested she go to a house of “ill fame,” where she would ”forget” him and make “plenty of money.” When he threatened to kill her, she agreed to“take the medicine.” She tried to flee, but she owed the college money and at its behest her landlady refused to allow her to leave with her baggage. The desperate lass was cornered. Gossip from “the vulgar-minded” hounded her and she “suffered untold agony.” Tearfully, she disclosed her plight to the landlady, who took her to the wife of Central Normal’s president. Left alone, the girl swallowed the strychnine. A summoned doctor saved her, but her life was ruined. The jailed wretch was charged with criminal seduction and providing “a deadly poison.” I chose not to pursue the outcome, but I rather think his attorney asked for a change of venue. Paul Miner Lizton ______________________________________________________________________
Grants Help Farmers Grow Communities The Bayer Fund announced the kickoff of the 2022 America’s Farmers Grow Communities program, which has been revamped to make it even easier for farmers across the country to find and fund the organizations and institutions that keep their communities thriving. From now 2 to November 1, eligible farmers can enroll for the chance to direct a donation to a local eligible nonprofit organization, school STEM or youth agriculture program. For 2022, Bayer Fund will double the individual donations to $5,000, up from $2,500 in previous years. America’s Farmers initiatives have awarded more than $60 million to thousands of schools and nonprofit organizations. Since
the creation of Grow Communities in 2010, farmers have played a key role in directing funds to programs and organizations that contribute to their communities’ health and vibrancy, such as food banks, schools and agriculture programs. In 2020 a Hendricks County farmer directed a Grow Communities donation to the Cascade High School FFA to help build a greenhouse at the school. In 2021, another local farmer directed his donation to the Tri-West Dollars for Scholars program to proved scholarships for graduating seniors. Farmers are eligible to enroll in Grow Communities if they are 21 years of age or older and are actively engaged in farming at least 250 acres of any crop.
“In addition to increasing the individual donation amounts in 2022, we’re excited to evolve Grow Communities to make it easier for farmers to take part,” said Al Mitchell, Bayer Fund President. “Over the years we’ve heard from countless farmers and Grow Communities recipients about the ways the donations have made a positive impact across rural America. For this reason, Bayer Fund is excited to continue the Grow Communities tradition.” To enroll or learn more about Grow Communities, including program eligibility and rules, farmers can visit www.AmericasFarmers.com or call 1-877-2673332 toll-free. Winners will be announced January 2022. ___________
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If you have a local news item to share, our deadline for receiving news items is noon on Monday for inclusion in Thursday’s edition. You can send your local news items to us by e-mail to therepublican@ sbcglobal.net. Call 317-745-2777, send by fax to 317-6474341. After hours, news items may be slipped in the mail slot in the front door at 6 E. Main, Danville. __________
Thursday, September 9, 2021
Yester~Year
The Republican has published local news weekly since 1847. We offer this column as a look back at events from our archives and to help connect today’s readers to the people and events in our past. ONE HUNDRED TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of September 10, 1896 Maplewood: The tent meeting at Quebec is drawing large crowds. The most valuable public improvement in road work ever done in Franklin township is now well underway in grading the National road above high water mark for the distance of a fourth of a mile west of Mill Creek. Coatesville: Uncle Hardin Tincher is a record breaker as a worker. He is seventy-two years old and has cut all his winter wood. North Salem organized a McKinley club Saturday night with 175 members. George B. Davis is president and John Adair, secretary. Tomorrow afternoon, at the Estep ball park, Danville will cross bats with the Greencastle City Club. Admission 15¢, ladies free. The Republicans of Clayton and vicinity met and formed a McKinley Club Saturday night. Avon: Socials seem to be in order now. Friday eve Eva and Frank Carter gave a social to their many friends. Quite a large number were present and enjoyed themselves until a late hour in social games and music. Brownsburg: Jno. A. Morgan will fit up a photograph gallery in the near future and will be prepared to turn out the latest in the photo line. On Saturday, Sept. 19th, there will be a grand rally at the Magnetic Springs at Cartersburg with speaking morning and afternoon. Misses Grace Huron and Mary Burk very handsomely entertained a number of young ladies yesterday afternoon with a thimble party at the residents of Dr. Huron. Mrs. Sarah J. Hill has been granted a pension of twelve dollars per month, dating from the death of her husband, D.F. Hill. _____ ONE HUNDRED YEARS AGO Issue of September 9, 1921 Sheriff Clark wonders if a new jail is the next thing in Hendricks county. Monday night the jail was filled. Alert officials and the general crime wave are responsible. Miss Lilla M. Hescock, Hendricks county nurse, will be in her office on the third floor of the court house every Saturday afternoon from 1 to 4, beginning September 16. Miss Dix, the new Home Demonstration Agent, finds busy days as she starts her work in the county. Dr. Thomas Barker is in his splendid new office on the south side of the square where he welcomes patients and friends. Walter J. Clark, the poultry judge, has a contract to cull out a flock of 1000 chickens on a poultry farm near Crawfordsville. He is assisting at the State Fair this week. Dr. A.P.W. Bridges has formed a partnership with Dr. B.M. O’Brien for the general practice of medicine. Miss Elma Jackson is an artist with the violin and splendid offers have been made for her lyceum and Chautauqua programs. There was organized at Clayton on August 5, the Hendricks County National Farm Loan Association. The purpose is to make 33-year amortized farm loans at one per cent. commission. Over 200 students are expected to enroll in the fall term of C.N.C., which opens Tuesday, September 20. Last fall the total enrollment reached 162. Sunday, the annual reunion of the Hadley family was held in the high school auditorium, North Salem. This branch of the Hadley family are decedents of James T. and Mary Hadley, a pioneer couple who came from North Carolina and settled in Indiana near Mill Creek in 1825. The day closed with a watermelon feast on the lawn. _____ SEVENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of September 12, 1946 Dr. E.C. Cumings reports 174 new students have enrolled for the Canterbury College school term beginning this month. Visitors to the Farmers Fair at Brownsburg airport, Saturday, will have the opportunity to see the first glider flight ever made in Hendricks County. President E.C. Cumings has recently been notified of the accreditment of Canterbury College to train veterans under Public Law 346 and Public Law 16. Approximately seventy-five percent of the present applications for enrollment at Canterbury are those of veterans availing themselves of the opportunity for higher education offered by the government.
Next Thursday will be “Military Night” at the Danville Fall Festival. Two composite companies of the 3rd Infantry State Guard will parade Thursday evening. Cartersburg: A new building to house the post office is being constructed here. Total of the first six grades at Danville schools is 356. The high school enrollment is 244. Total amount reaches the 600 mark. Frederick G. Neel, former principal of Hunter Elementary School at Bloomington, has been named professor of education and head of the education department at Canterbury College. President E.C. Cumings has announced appointment of Tilman J. Hadley as band and orchestra for the beginning of the fall term. The clock on the east side of the court house has been taken down and is being repaired. _____ FIFTY YEARS AGO Issue of September 9, 1971 Tuesday morning, officials of the Danville Community School Corporation, the School Building Corporation, James Associates, and school officials and attorney witnessed the groundbreaking for the new Danville Community High School. Hendricks County Sheriff Russell Carmichael estimated, Tuesday, that over 150 fans from the National Hot Rod Association at Raceway Park, west of Clermont had passed through the jail since the event opened last Wednesday night. The Danville Community Action Group worked all day, Saturday, to put up 50 flags along Main Street for the Labor Day Weekend. The concession building and restrooms at the south end of the C.F. Roark Stadium, Brownsburg, has been completed. The Jaycees sponsored the building. Miss Karen Kisner was the overnight guest, Friday, of Miss Leisa Mount of Indianapolis, for a surprise birthday party for Leisa. The Danville Jaycees are planning the fourth annual Old Fashioned Swap & Shop Days for October 16-17, on the public square. The Danville Chamber of Commerce is offering a reward of $250 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the dynamiting of the concession building in the Danville Park. _____ TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO Issue of September 5, 1996 Country western favorites, the J.R. Love - Kim Cronley Show with the Silverado Band, will be featured at Danville’s Ellis Park Amphitheater, Saturday, September 14, at 7 p.m., sponsored by the Danville Chamber of Commerce. Spectators are invited to the inaugural Three Round Slalom Waterskiing Tournament at Hawthorne Lake, one mile south of U.S. 36 on SR 75, Sunday, September 15. A Danville High School graduate is among those to be inducted into the Rose Hulman Institute of Technology Athletic Hall of Fame on Saturday, September 7. He is three-time NCAA III Track & Field champion, Chris Trapp. The Hon. John A. Kendall of Hendricks County has bee nominated for the Indiana State Bar Association Centennial Service Award in recognition of his outstanding leadership and service to the legal profession and his community. The Robert G. Porter Funeral Home, North Salem and Jamestown, has announced that Dan Hurt has joined the staff as of September 2. _____ TEN YEARS AGO Issue of September 8, 2011 Residents who witness unusual silver objects in Hendricks County next week should remain calm. They’re not an army of UFO’s, but a caravan of Airstream trailers for the Regional Rally at the Hendricks County Fairgrounds. Meredith M. Kincaid an Barbara (Sedwick) Kincade are marking their 50th wedding anniversary on September 2. Nimrod, an abstract, painted-aluminum sculpture by Odea Halahrny, is at a new location, in front of the Danville Police Department (Hargrave Hall). The sculpture was moved from the plaza by the former Town Hall to its new spot. The Mill Creek Community School Corporation will host two community forums to discuss a balanced versus traditional calendar. Hendricks Civic Theater invites adults to audition for “Wrinkled Rebellion” - a hilarious comedy written and directed by local playwright, Ron Schnitzlus.
